IN NOVEMBER, Green Mambas can often be seen on the ground more than usual because the gravid females will often be looking for an ideal spot to lay eggs.

Also read: WATCH: Green mamba caught in Adams Mission home

This was the reason that snake catcher Nick Evans was called to an Amanzimtoti home recently after a Green Mamba was spotted in the yard. These slick and elusive reptiles mostly reside in trees and rarely come down unless the female has to lay eggs on the ground.

In a statement, Evans said when he arrived at the home, he looked under a pile of roof sheeting and saw the mamba under it.

“I moved sheet after sheet, going as carefully as possible to avoid hurting her. Eventually, I was down to the last piece of asbestos. I flipped it, exposing the snake. I could tell straight away she was gravid by her swollen back half,” said Evans.

The snake had deemed the cover provided by the asbestos sheets as a perfect spot to lay eggs.

“I could see she was about to pop, so I put her in an enclosure with a box to hide in and lay. Three days later, she laid nine healthy eggs,” he said.

He added that the snake would be released shortly, and her offspring would follow when they were around three months old.

DID YOU KNOW?

Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom at 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)