A GREEN mamba ran amok on an Amanzimtoti resident’s vehicle before being safely captured.

ET Rapid Response’s Tony Lokker showed off another skill in his repertoire after receiving the call.

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“This one was inside the vehicle’s engine compartment. After a long stand-off, the snake was safely removed. The poor Ford Fiesta was worse off. The snake was released safely afterwards. We do not only get rid of reptilian snakes, we are very good at catching other ‘snakes’,” said Lokker.

He explained that he used to work at the old Fitzsimons Snake Park, which came in handy when met with the mamba.

Lokker said, “Green mambas are arboreal, which means they prefer to be up in the trees. They are mostly active during the day feeding on birds, rodents and even lizards. They are front-fanged and possess a potent neurotoxic venom, which is fast-acting and urgent medical care will be needed if bitten. Early symptoms include dizziness, slurred speech, nausea and difficulty breathing. A polyvalent anti-venom is used to treat bites. If a person is bitten and a green mamba is suspected, try to get a picture of the snake without putting yourself at risk. Take a pressure bandage and bandage the limb on which the victim was bitten with the same pressure you’d use for a sprained ankle. This slows down the spreading of the venom through the lymphatic system. Get to the hospital as soon as possible.”

To get in touch with ET Rapid Response, contact 0861 031 111.

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