Mating season: 2 male black mambas caught in Reservoir Hills, 2 weeks after female was captured at the same house

Durban - Local snake rescuer Nick Evans said he was not surprised to find two male black mambas at a house in Reservoir Hills on Tuesday, as mating season has started and the snakes may have picked up the scent of the female he caught earlier this month at the same property.

Evans said he had been to the same house on May 4 and reports indicated that one of the mambas had been seen basking on a beam on the side of a building, exactly where he had caught the last one.

He was accompanied on the call-out by Craig Cordier and Euan Genevier, who had come to Durban from Pietermaritzburg for research.

Evans said Cordier and Genevier arrived at the house first and began looking for the mambas, but they were not found.

“I walked around, with the plan of climbing under the building to have a look. As we got around, Euan spotted one. I ran back to my car to get my long African Snakebite Institute tongs, which I used last time.

“When I got back I saw the mamba curled up, and it was an easy grab. I pulled it up gently, where Craig got his tongs on it to secure it, while I switched tongs and pinned it down,” he said.

As they were placing the mamba in a bucket, Genevier spotted the second mamba, he said.

Two male black mambas caught at the same house where a female was captured two weeks prior in Reservoir Hills. Picture: Nick Evans

“This one was about 1.5m to the left, on a branch. I had to lean over a bit and stretch, but I got it, and did exactly the same thing. Success!” he said.

At first Evans said he thought the mambas were a pair, as mating season had started.

“But no, it's two males. The last one I caught there was on May 4. Perhaps her scent is still lingering there, and attracted these two. Otherwise maybe there's a new female in town!” he said.