Venomous black mamba surprises KZN couple in their bedroom
The 1.2-metre-long snake was captured.
Image: Supplied/Rusa
A KwaZulu-Natal couple was startled awake on Monday when they found a venomous black mamba slithering in their bedroom on Mercury Drive, Riet River.
The terrifying moment began when the wife noticed unusual movement in the dim light and discovered the snake dangerously close to their bed. In panic, she alerted her husband, who contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) for urgent help.
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.”