A screengrab of a video shared by snake rescuer Nick Evans shows mambas in combat at a Durban home.
Image: Nick Evans / Facebook
A Durban snake rescuer has shared rare footage of two male Black Mamba snakes engaged in a prolonged wrestling match in the Umbilo River Valley area, offering a glimpse into little-seen mating-season behaviour.
The incident took place last Saturday at a residence in the area after snake rescuer Nick Evans received a call from a friend, Phil Gandy, reporting the presence of the snakes.
Evans, accompanied by his wife, Carla and fellow rescuer Duncan Slabbert, responded to the scene.
On arrival, the two large male mambas were still locked in combat.
“They were wrestling under a car for a while, then eventually moved out into the open, where we could observe them clearly,” Evans said.
The behaviour, which coincides with the species’ mating season between May and August, occurs when males encounter one another while following a female’s scent trail. Evans clarified that the interaction was not mating but a known form of male combat.
“This is 100% male combat. They do not bite or try to kill each other. They try to throw each other’s heads to the ground,” he explained.
The force of the encounter was evident, with audible impacts heard as the snakes struck the ground during the contest. The pair remained highly focused on each other and largely ignored nearby human presence.
The wrestling continued for about half an hour before Evans and his team intervened as the snakes began moving toward nearby vegetation between properties.
Durban snake rescuers Nick Evans, his wife Carla and Duncan Slabbert captured two black mambas after witnessing the snakes' unique combat behavior.
Image: Supplied/Jade Slabbert
Using specialised snake tongs, Evans secured both snakes simultaneously by the neck region, allowing Carla and Slabbert to safely capture them.
The snakes were described as large and powerful, though fatigued from the prolonged encounter. One measured 2.5 metres and weighed 2.4 kilograms, while the other measured 2.6 metres and weighed 2.5 kilograms.
Evans noted that female mambas leave a scent trail during mating season, which males track using their forked tongues. If multiple males converge on the same trail, confrontations such as this can occur.
The location of the female in this case remains uncertain. According to Evans, she could have been on nearby cliffs or in the surrounding area.
He also addressed misconceptions circulating online, where some viewers suggested the snakes were mating.
“When mambas mate, they usually go under cover, such as into a termite mound or beneath objects, and remain relatively still with their tails locked,” he said.
The snakes were removed from the property, as residents typically do not want highly venomous snakes in close proximity to their homes.
Evans described the encounter as a rare and remarkable sight to witness.
“We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to witness such spectacular behaviour,” he said.
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