Mamba Kills Brittish Student.

Moe66 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 10:49 AM

Mamba kills British student : South Africa: News: News24
Very sad, but what was he thinking!?!??!

Lucille · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:41 PM

I had no idea that mambas could get to be 9 feet, I had always thought they were smaller snakes.
I also feel it is sad, and I am sorry for the student and for his family; but I think that with a snake reputed to be this dangerous, as far as toxicity, that more caution would have been a good idea.

morti · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:42 PM

Remember folks: Assume that anything you put too close to the sharp end is gonna get bit.

Ekke · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucille

I had no idea that mambas could get to be 9 feet, I had always thought they were smaller snakes.

3m is more of an avarage big Black Mamba but record long ones have been found up to 4m plus.

Moe66 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 03:42 PM

its also been suggested that its the fastest snake in the world!! not sure how true that is, can you imagine testing for that, a whole bunch of venomous snakes lined up... on yer marks, get set.....Go (then run like mad in the other direction)

Roddie · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 03:58 PM

Wow!!!
So Moe...when does the race start, you can give me a head start!!!

owen.richards · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 04:21 PM

at least they set the snake free and didnt kill it.

Roddie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 06:47 PM

Yeah, I was suprised they dident kill it.
If it was anything else they most likley would have.

Java · #9 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 07:53 PM

....

Ekke · #10 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roddie

Yeah, I was suprised they dident kill it.
If it was anything else they most likley would have.

Not really he was biten at an educational institute and they might have killed it because it's a mamba they are nearly a dine a dozen.

Roddie · #11 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 03:48 PM

I mean if it was anyother animal I.E. Dog,Tiger.....they would have put it down....Like they always do!

mpgt · #12 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 04:43 PM

A dog or tiger that attacked someone might be more apt to do it again, than a "normal" dog or tiger. Any mamba would have been expected to bite in this instance, so this one shouldn't be considered a higher threat than any other mamba. It just made sense to let it go. I'm glad they haven't felt the urge to eradicate them and all the other dangerous animals in the area. We know how nuisance animals are treated in the U.S. Here's a current example: Bounty Hunters Busy as Beavers :: WRAL.com

pilot511 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe66

its also been suggested that its the fastest snake in the world!! not sure how true that is, can you imagine testing for that, a whole bunch of venomous snakes lined up... on yer marks, get set.....Go (then run like mad in the other direction)

supposidely the mamba can hit like 12 miles per hour +

TammyJamaica · #14 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 05:54 PM

Hard to imagine getting a bite that kills you, and you did not even know you had been bitten.

This must be a really hard lesson for the other students that were there.

I am very sorry for the student and his family and friends, especially as he was so young and going to be involved in animal welfare. Glad the snake was freed. Our severely endangered Jamaican boas, non-venomous as they are, are usually killed on sight due to ignorance and fear among other things like the desire to be a "hero". (Yes, that's why they are so very endangered.)

poonstang90lx · #15 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 06:13 PM

This really is a most unfortunate incident, I feel sorry for the family. The man chose a dangerous profession and the training cost him his life. I hope that all the partys involved learned from this experience.

Ekke · #16 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot511

supposidely the mamba can hit like 12 miles per hour +

A mamba is as fast as you walk just before you start jogging. I don't know what speed that is but you (normal adult) will be able to out run a mamba. If it should become rabid, loss it's mind, turns against it natuur and chase you.
Yes the Mamba is fast, can get up to 4m and ofcourse it's deadly but no it's not the cahsing a man on horse back villian that the folk lore makes it out to be. A Mamba in the bush has a personale space of probable about 10 to 15 m if it can get out of the way it will be out of there before you even know it was there.

Sorry I'm ranting I just get very upset with the bad rep Mamba's get. I personally have never seen a Green Mamba in the wild. And the Black Mamba's I have seen has always been were there was human "interverance" like naturally bush being cleared for crops or veld fires ect. they are beautiful snakes that are just trying there best to make it out there.

Ashes · #17 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 02:20 PM

Most people probably walk at 3-4 miles an hour. (Think, it takes you about fifteen minutes to walk a mile, it'll take an hour to walk four.)

I was also surprised they didn't kill it, but relieved. In my short time of owning/researching snakes, I find most people have a bad reaction to them. Something that killed a person, most people would see as a threat, whether they are logically or no.

Also, if he was experience with this snakes, or any dangerous/exotic animal, isn't it bad practice to go waving your arms about in its face? I'd think you're asking for trouble. Like morti said, put anything to close to the sharp end...

ThomasH. · #18 (**permalink**) 03-19-2008, 06:52 PM

Very sad. Every story could save another life though, by making people more careful.

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