Curiosity didn’t kill the cat as the pet alerts Durban family to black mamba resting under a free-standing bathtub

A black mamba was removed from underneath a free-standing claw foot bathtub at a house in Queensburgh in Durban. Picture: Nick Evans

A black mamba was removed from underneath a free-standing claw foot bathtub at a house in Queensburgh in Durban. Picture: Nick Evans

Published Sep 26, 2022

Share

Durban - A family in Queensburgh in Durban noticed their cat staring intently at something in the bathroom and upon further investigation discovered a “feisty” black mamba under their claw foot bathtub on Monday.

Snake rescuer Nick Evans said the hot weather was bringing out the snakes.

Evans said the mamba probably thought a bathroom would be a nice, cool place to spend the afternoon, as opposed to the heat outside.

“The homeowners had noticed their cat in the passageway intently staring at something in the bathroom. That's when they noticed this snake,” he said.

He said when he arrived at the house, the snake was hiding under the bath.

“Imagine (one is) relaxing in the bath, and it comes up to say hi? Would be interesting,” said Evans.

Evans said the mamba was small and measured about a metre and a half.

“[Black mambas] this size are always a handful, and this one was particularly feisty,” he said.

He added that he was glad when the homeowners called immediately after seeing the snake.

“The whole weekend, I was getting calls to catch a snake, seen a day or days before. First thing in the morning to late at night…So to be called (just) when the snake was seen, the logical time to call for help, was a relief.”

A black mamba was removed from underneath a free-standing claw foot bathtub at a house in Queensburgh in Durban. Picture: Nick Evans

A black mamba was removed from underneath a free-standing claw foot bathtub at a house in Queensburgh in Durban. Picture: Nick Evans

THE MERCURY