Durban snake catcher Nick Evans needed to climb into the hot ceiling of a home in Shallcross to catch a 2.2m black mamba that is believed to have evaded capture last month, when he came across a 3m long skin.
Evans described it as a hectic rescue that took hours on Wednesday evening.
He said the mamba was seen in the eaves of the same roof.
He said he went to the home thinking it would be an easy catch as long as the snake did not go into the ceiling because it had been a hot day and climbing into the ceiling was not appealing.
Yet luck was against Evans, as the snake slithered into the ceiling before his arrival.
“I climbed into the ceiling, which was like a sauna, as expected. I crawled over to the corner where the mamba had entered and tapped the plastic beneath the roof tiles with my 1.5m long African Snakebite Institute tongs. Sure enough, it was there. I heard it slithering around between the plastic and roof tiles,” Evans said.
“I was concerned it would just shoot out the roof and onto the wall outside, vanishing into the bush. If it did, it would just return the next day, so I really wanted to get it while there.”
Evans said he climbed on the roof to start lifting tiles. Unfortunately, they were well secured. Brilliant for security, but not for him.
He said he called his friend Duncan Slabbert who he suspected would be on his way home from work, meaning he might be fairly close. He was, so he agreed to come help.
Evans said having two people in the ceiling to catch a mamba is much easier than one. His plan was for them to chase the snake to each other.
When Slabbert arrived, he stood on the roof at the opening the mamba went in, while Evans was inside, cutting a hole in the plastic so we could grab the snake.
“I heard the mamba moving away.
“I crawled over the beams, melting, and avoiding leaning on the delicate ceiling board while tapping the plastic trying to find the mamba,” Evans explained.
“When I eventually got to the other end of the ceiling, I spotted the mamba. It had climbed into the ceiling with me and was curled up by a brick wall inside (a firewall, apparently), dividing the ceiling.”
Evans said he thought the mamba was trapped so he called Slabbert to go inside the ceiling.
The mamba then started moving under the wall and while he climbed towards it, it vanished and went to the other side of the wall, Evans explained.
He said he was cursing his luck, thinking he could not get to it but then noticed that there was a hole in the wall, which he crawled through.
“I saw the mamba going into the plastic again. I told Duncan (Slabbert) to cut a hole in the plastic on his side of the wall, and I'd chase it to him. Well, I tried that, and it came into my side of the wall. I grabbed it with the long tongs,” Evans said.
“I was in a tight space, lying across the beams. I wasn’t keen on the idea of trying to neck it in this position or even just dragging it towards me. So, I thought I’d pass it under the wall to Duncan.
“I had the head end, which I told Duncan, as he tried reaching in for the tail with his tongs.
“I heard him get a big fright! Apparently, he was leaning down trying to see the tail, when it popped out right behind him! Lucky I had the head,” Evans continued.
“He told me I can let go, so I did, and climbed through the wall as quickly as possible, wanting to be ready to assist as possible! But he had it pinned and secured pretty quick. Phew! I was so relieved. But then I had to get the bucket.”
Evans said while climbing back to the trapdoor, to fetch the bucket the homeowner passed up, he nearly collapsed. His arms and legs had turned to jelly, and he felt sick. He looked like he had jumped in a swimming pool. He was drenched in perspiration, as was Duncan. They just wanted some fresh air.
He said he managed to make it back to Slabbert who got it in the bucket without a problem. Once out of there, being able to stand and breathe fresh air was amazing. What a mission.
“It’s not the biggest of mambas, about 2.2m in length, but definitely not the one that left the huge skin. I haven’t sexed this one, but I’m guessing it’s a female, and the huge skin belonged to the male. That male wouldn’t be 3m, the skin stretches quite a bit, but he certainly wasn’t this size,” Evans said.
“There was another skin up there, which we couldn’t get to. That looked more like this mamba’s size, although hard to confirm.”
He said he was extremely grateful to Slabbert for his help. It was not the first time Slabbert came to his aid and he knew it would not be the last. Some of his most challenging rescues have been with him.
Evans thanked JETBeam South Africa for the torches, which are as bright as the sun, for lighting up the ceiling for them.
He also thanked the homeowner for calling.
“I know he and his wife are pleased that mamba is gone,” Evans added.
Daily News