A Cape Town man expressed shock when a Cape cobra was found inside a toilet bowl.
Jason van Rooyen explained that the snake was discovered in his neighbour’s home in Parklands.
“On Sunday, I was called by my neighbours saying that they needed help with a Cape cobra that was in their toilet.
“I went around to the neighbour and saw that the snake was half in the toilet pot and half out. “I then decided not to disturb the snake as it could be complicated. I decided to call someone to assist with the removal of the snake. I then contacted a snake handler who did an amazing job and did not play around when removing the snake. He made everyone in his surroundings feel comfortable and dealt with the snake.
“I must admit my adrenaline was rushing through my body when I first saw it because I know how dangerous it is,” said Van Rooyen.
Snake Relocation owner, Andrew MacLeod, said the increase in buildings in the Parklands area could be pushing reptiles out of their environment.
“We catch about three to four snakes a week.
“On Sunday, someone called me and told me about the situation. And I asked them to put me through to the owner.
“They came back from church, inside the flat there were nine kids aged 13 and younger.
“I usually charge R350 for snake removals. However, I didn’t care that they didn’t have it. It was about their safety, and it was also a five-minute job. I took the snake and left it in the bush about two kilometres away from Parklands.
“A Cape cobra is highly venomous and if it bites, your breathing will be affected and you should never look around but just drive to the nearest hospital.”
MacLeod said his company has been busy during the last few months.
“We normally see such snakes in the late spring and summer months; that is when they are active.”
“They come out because of the heat.”
He explained that when he catches Cape cobras, he leaves them near where he finds them.
“I don’t like to take them far from where they are found, so a two-kilometre radius and open bush is where I leave them. A lot of people kill the snakes by taking them from Parklands to Camps Bay.”
He advised that people take note of their surroundings.
“There is nothing anyone can do to repel snakes, except a tidy yard, with no rubble and man-made shelters and artificial water ponds that attract prey like mice and frogs. No chemicals will work, even the off-the-shelf products; we have tested them,” said MacLeod.