Update: Ladysmith mother saves baby from deadly snake, Mozambique Spitting Cobra
"The venom 'spat' in the eyes will cause an immediate stinging sensation and possible blindness"
Snake expert Zam Paulik was interviewed and highlighted the dangers associated with encountering a deadly snake…
A mother protected her one-month-old baby from a Mozambique Spitting Cobra at her home in Colenso, near Ladysmith, last night (March 8). The woman had finished breast-feeding her baby and had placed the baby on the couch. She saw the snake next to the couch, grabbed her child and screamed for help.
The snake was ready to attack and spat venom into her eyes, before being captured and killed by family members.
“Venom being ‘spat’ in the eyes will cause an immediate stinging sensation and in severe cases, possible blindness. One’s eyes should be washed out immediately with large quantities of water,” explained Zam Paulik.
Read also: Ladysmith mother saves her baby from deadly snake, a Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Read also: Ladysmith snake man goes in search of huge snake in Hyde Road
Also read: Giant snake swallows whole goat
Read also: Beware: Dog poisoning hits Ladysmith hard with ‘Two-Step’
“A Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica) is very a common snake in Africa, with potent venom. The species accounts for many snake bites and for that reason, it is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa,” he added.
Background information:
Their dorsal side colour ranges from slate grey to olive brown with a dark edge in each scale. They are a relatively small sized and slender snake species, with an adult Mozambique Spitting Cobra averaging a length of around 1 to 1.2 metres and they rarely exceed 1.5 metres. These snakes seldom stand their ground. If cornered, it may spread its hood. However, its main defence, other than retreating into hiding, is (like their common name implies) to spit its venom. They may also simulate death to avoid further molestation. Their fangs are specially modified for spitting the venom, with channel openings in the tips of the teeth directed forward at right angles to the fangs. This allows the Mozambique Spitting Cobra to spit its venom to a distance of 2 or 3 metres and their venom supply is plentiful.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
