Watch: How The World’s Most Deadliest Snake Rescued From The House Will Give You Chills
Nick Evans is the man in South Africa’s Durban to reach out to if you have spotted a snake in your home.
A professional snake handler who runs the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Durban, Evans counts catching reptiles as one of his favourite pastimes.
“It’s what I live for!” Evans told the National Geographic in an email.
So when a black mamba decided to visit a Durban home last week, Evans stepped in and effortlessly removed the reptile considered as one of the deadliest snakes in the world.
The National Geographic, which uploaded the video showing Evans capturing the mamba using special tongs, said these snakes are known to reach up to 14 feet in length. It said black mambas, which have grey or olive skin, derive their name from the striking, blueish black colour of the inside of their mouths.
After capturing the snake, Evans measured it to find it to be just over eight feet long. It was then tagged and left in a reserve where captured snakes and reptiles are released after being caught.
Evans said the house was home to a variety of birds, rabbits and hamsters that are ideal prey for the black mamba, which particularly feeds on small animals.
His organisation focuses on educating and dispelling common misconceptions about snakes. Evans is also actively involved in removing snakes from various properties in Durban and ensuring the safety of the residents.
Black mambas can be found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and even though they prefer to avoid people, human expansion into their territory is making the interaction between both inevitable. “It could also constitute a possible threat to both humans and snakes,” Evans, who receives up to 20 calls in a single day during summers, told the National Geographic.
Evans says the best way to prevent an unwanted interaction is to learn more about snake characteristics and the factors that attract them into human homes.
Black Mambas are extremely venomous and very fast as they can slither up to 12 miles per hour.