Dangerous encounters: Mozambique spitting cobra found under a bed

The Mozambique spitting cobra found under a bed. | Reaction Unit SA

The Mozambique spitting cobra found under a bed. | Reaction Unit SA

Published Oct 25, 2024

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Durban ā€” Before midday on Thursday, a Mozambique spitting cobra and a herald snake were rescued in two separate incidents.

At 11.42am, the cobra measuring approximately 1.2 metres was captured on a property in Hilltop, Verulam.

Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) area manager Nkosinathi Ndaba was sent to the property after the snake was discovered under a bed in an outbuilding.

On arrival, Ndaba identified the snake as a highly venomous Mozambique spitting cobra.

Officer Nkosinathi Ndaba with the Mozambique spitting cobra found under a bed. | Reaction Unit SA.

The species is regarded as one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa due to its cytotoxic venom.

ā€œOfficer Ndaba safely captured and relocated the snake,ā€ Rusa said.

Earlier, Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans rescued a large adult herald snake.

Evans said the snake was described as a black mamba. A common mistake due to their colouration.

Typical herald defensive pose, basically saying, "Leave me alone!" | Nick Evans

ā€œAlthough they are tiny in comparison to mambas, and will often stand their ground and strike, to scare you off. A mamba will flee,ā€ Evans said.

He said that when they arrived at the home in Dawncliffe, they found the gardener had the suspected mamba in a bag, and knew it was almost certainly a herald.

An untrained person putting a mamba in a bag will likely cause a bite. It has already happened once this year, Evans said.

ā€œSure enough, it was a herald. An adult, which must have enjoyed a toad throughout the night.

ā€œThis specimen has a bit of an orange ā€˜lipā€™ Some have brighter coloured ā€˜lipsā€™, some are very plain, basically white,ā€ Evans described.

Dr Carla Goede with the large herald she took out the bag. | Nick Evans

This herald put on a show to scare them.

ā€œTheir mild venom is of no concern to people or pets,ā€ Evans said.

He added it was a great way to start a day.

Information on the black mamba. | African Snakebite Institute.

Information on the herald snake. | African Snakebite Institute.

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