Huge deadly Rinkhals snake found in children’s play area near house

A huge, deadly Rinkhals snake was found in a children’s play area near a house on Thursday (April 20).

Snake expert Fanie Cilliers was called out to the Royal National Park area, just outside of Bergville, to catch the snake that was in the house walls.

The snake had been in the area for almost 2 weeks, according to the residents of the house. They had seen it, and on occasion the snake “stood up” looking to strike. The residents were living in fear.

When their son came home on holiday, he decided they had to get the snake removed.

The son said he was not going back until the snake was away from the house due to the small children who play in the area.

Fanie responded to the scene just below the Drakensberg mountains, where the snake was seen between 2 walls of the house.

Fanie said the residents actually tried to burn the walls to get the snake out, but in vain, as it did not move.

On close inspection, Fanie found a rats’ nest in between the walls that the snake had gotten into and eaten the rats. He had to break the walls to get to the snake.

After a struggle to break through the walls, he safely removed the snake without any harm or injury.

Speaking to Fanie, he said the area where the snake was found is prime Rinkhals territory, and Mozambique Spitting Cobras are not found there.

Also read: Watch Video: Mommy, there’s a snake on the stoep – 5.29-metre Python found near Ladysmith

Also read: 4-metre-plus Python snake chases 9-year-old boy up a tree, fleeing for his life near Ladysmith

Also read: Watch: Huge Mozambique Spitting Cobra snake found at Ladysmith home as it spits venom

A Rinkhals snake spits venom and hoods up just like a Cobra before it attacks.

Fanie urges people not to try and catch any snake by themselves – they should always call an expert to remove it.

The Rinkhals measured 1.2 metres in length and will be safely released away from town, where it will not come in contact with any humans but have a sufficient food source.

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