Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans removed not one but two gravid (pregnant) black mambas during the re-building of a fence.

Evans said he got an exciting call last week with a pleasant surprise.

“I was called out to the Mariannhill area for what sounded like a large Mozambique spitting cobra, discovered by a construction team re-building a fence,” Evans said.

He said the snake was under what appeared to be burnt fibreglass from something. However, he could not verify because the homeowner was not there.

“Regardless, this matt-like structure was a great hideout for a snake,” Evans said.

He said that one of the team stood on the inside of the property, and using a steel rake, pulled back the burnt material.

“Almost instantly, I saw a black mamba. She was quite relaxed and made for an easy, uneventful catch. What was exciting though, was that she was gravid! And she’d found the perfect place to lay. Well, until fence repairs got under way,” Evans said.

“I could feel the eggs and physically see the bumps in her.”

The smaller and second gravid black mamba. | Nick Evans

Evans said that as he was leaving, one of the fencing team asked him to please wait while they moved the rest of this burnt stuff, just in case there was another mamba. Although he was sceptical, he went to look.

“Good thing I did - because incredibly, there was another mamba! A smaller female, and a lot more of a handful. I struggled a little, especially in the awkward spot I was in, but soon had her,” Evans said.

“She was about 2.1m, whereas the first was around 2.4.

“Oh, and yes, mamba number 2 was also gravid,” Evans continued.

“Interesting behaviour which I have observed a few times now, and which I’m writing up.”

The first and biggest gravid black mamba. | Nick Evans

Evans said the matt and holes in the ground beneath it made for prime conditions for egg-laying.

“Both mambas are in my friends ‘nursery’. They’ve been given safe spaces to lay eggs in, after which they will be released (they lay and leave in the wild). The hatchlings, which will probably hatch at the end of February/early March,” Evans said.

He thanked the fencing team for calling rather than killing the snake. For helping too.

During the rescue Evans was wearing the new African Snakebite Institute’s black mamba shirts which he said was “very appropriate here, and just in time for snake season.”

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