Local news

Heat wave brings out the dangerous snakes – in all shapes and sizes

It's a super-busy time of the year for one of the South Coast's best known snake catchers.

January 17, 2023
Shona Aylward 1 minute read
Sarel van der Merwe doing what he does best.
South Coast’s very own local snake-catching hero, Sarel van der Merwe, recently caught a black mamba, two green mambas and a female boomslang – all in one day.
This was last Friday – the 13th – which started with a 60km drive to Mtwalume in response to a call with regards to a black mamba in a chicken coop.
Sarel van der Merwe gently catches the black mamba in the chicken coop in Mtwalume.
Sarel then drove to Port Edward to rescue an ‘unwanted’ green mamba on a property, and afterwards for a female boomslang at the Pont Resort, also in Port Edward.
Last catch of the day was a green mamba in Boboyi.
Sarel to the rescue in Mtwalume.
Sarel explained that while boomslang males have a variety of colour shades, from solid bright green to rust-red or a combination of black and yellow, the females have a dull olive-brown or grey colour.
Juveniles are quite spectacular with bright emerald eyes, white throat and cryptic, twig-coloured bodies.

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At Caxton, every story is written by humans. We use AI only to perform quality checks - never to generate the news. Happy reading!
January 17, 2023
Shona Aylward 1 minute read

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shonaaylward

Shona Aylward is a vastly experienced journalist working as a senior reporter. Aside from her extensive community involvement and story writing, she is also involved in creative page layout, and the various media platforms. Shona began her career with Caxton at the Southlands Sun. Previous to this she worked in the marketing industry for surf magazines. Shona is a renown 'greenie' and champions environmental causes. She is also Mom to a number of dogs and cats, and the occasional uninvited snake. When she can find some spare time, it's usually to the beach that she heads.
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