Massive 3.75kg black mamba captured at Albert Luthuli hospital
The Bluff-based snake catcher Warren Dick was called to Albert Luthuli Hospital to remove a 2.73m black mamba.
A CALM lunch between The Bluff-based snake catcher Warren Dick and his wife quickly turned into a race against time to find a black mamba which was spotted at Albert Luthuli Hospital on May 10.
Also read: No April Fools’ joke: Massive black mamba captured
Dick received a call from a resident within the hospital ground, who said he spotted an enormous black mamba. The couple quickly made their way to the hospital and upon their arrival, they discovered a vigilant security guard who had been meticulously tracking the snake from a cautious distance.
A slithery plan
“When we arrived, we were told the snake was around the corner, but we must first go upstairs and check where it is; we went and looked, I immediately saw it was indeed a huge snake, right at the top of a flight of stairs. I had to approach from the bottom of the stairs. As I climbed the stairs, I was worried that the snake would see me coming and would bolt down the stairs/slope. When I reached the top, I saw the snake was actually trying to get into the building and was climbing up the glass, even with people on the other side. Fortunately, the way the snake was it could not see me coming till it was too late, making for a very easy (if you are well trained) catch,” said Dick.
Understanding the misunderstood
Once the reptile was securely contained, Dick spent some time educating the hospital staff regarding this often misunderstood species.
Also read: Black mamba saved in Montclair
“I walked down the stairs to show the staff of the hospital, letting some safely touch and get a deeper appreciation of the animal before putting it in the bucket,” he said.
A giant mamba
The black mamba was the largest Dick had ever encountered in his career, with a length of 2.73m and a weight of 3.75kg.
Contact:
If you want any snakes removed or insects or animals to be identified, contact Warren Dick on 072 211 0353.
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