About 30 die each year from black mamba bites

The annual death toll is an estimated figure as there are no official records pertaining to deaths attributed to being bitten by a black mamba.

The black mamba is one of the seven deadliest species of snakes found in Swaziland. There are 83 snake species found in the country. Meanwhile, the Southern African region has 480 species.

According to conservationist Thea Litschka-Koen, this much-feared snake has enough venom to kill 14 adults.

"Snakebite statistics are virtually non-existent in the country," she said during a lecture that was hosted by the Natural History Society of Swaziland on Wednesday evening at the Mountain Inn.

Litschka-Koen added that the black mamba has fast-acting venom. Just two drops are enough to have a fatal impact on a person.

She said the snake, which grows up to 2.8 metres, inflicts a rather painless bite without resulting in swelling. "It has neurotoxin venom which destroys or damages or impairs the human nervous system. The first symptoms are felt within 15 minutes or sooner if it is a child. It has enough venom to kill 14 adults," she said.

In some instances, she said, the snake delivers a dry bite to simply send a warning. "A warning that it is going to strike is that it stands up with a gapping mouth and hisses. 16 per cent of the time it has a dry bite," she added.

She said snakebites have far-reaching consequences as they result in trauma which also needs to be addressed.

The conservationist said the snake thrives in hot humid areas of the country, being naturally attracted to vast sugar cane plantations.

They are affected when their habitation has been encroached upon. "The snake doesn’t strike unprovoked. It tries to get away and will not chase you. It travels at about 15 to 20 kilometres an hour," she said.

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