A KwaZulu-Natal couple awoke to find a venomous black mamba slithering around their bedroom on Mercury Drive, Riet River, on Monday.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), the terrifying moment began when the wife noticed unusual movement in the dim light of their bedroom. Startled, she discovered the dangerously venomous snake lurking perilously close to their bed.
In a state of panic, she immediately alerted her husband, prompting him to contact the Rusa for urgent assistance.
Rusa’s team responded swiftly to the distress call. Upon their arrival, officer Bryson Bisnath assessed the situation and expertly captured the approximately 1.2-metre-long snake, which is known for its lethal bite and high-speed agility.
The black mamba, a species notorious for its aggressive behaviour when threatened, was safely relocated away from human habitats, preventing any potential tragedy.
In another similar incident in March, a father and daughter from Verulam were stunned when what appeared to be a discarded bicycle tyre turned out to be a 3.2-metre-long black mamba – one of Africa’s most venomous snakes.
The dramatic discovery occurred at a home on Ebony Link Road in Trenance Park, while the father and daughter were cleaning out a shed on their property.
Rusa officers were called to the scene after the pair realised the “tyre” had suddenly come to life.
Prem Balram, of Rusa, explained that the situation unfolded within seconds.
“The homeowner was conducting a cleanup in the shed when his daughter picked up what she believed to be a bicycle tyre lying among items in the structure. The object suddenly moved and slithered deeper into the shed. At that point they realised it was in fact a large snake and immediately requested assistance.”
Bisnath rushed to the property and began searching the cluttered structure where the snake had disappeared.
He located the black mamba inside the shed.
“The snake was safely captured and removed from the premises. Officers also noted that the highly venomous snake was in the process of shedding its skin at the time it was captured.”
