Durban - Local snake catcher, Nick Evans, caught a large pregnant spitting cobra on a property on Pinedale Road in Queensburgh on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Evans, the snake, estimated to be 1.4 metres, was probably looking for a place to lay her eggs. He said that spitting cobras leave the eggs once laid and do not guard them at all.
“The only snake to sit on its eggs is the female python. Spitting cobras don’t look after their eggs,” said Evans
During September and October, the mating season for snakes, Evans was called out to two incidents where two mating cobras were found together.
“It was unusual to find one pair and then I was called out the following day, only to find a second pair,” said Evans.
He added that there will be lots of baby snake sightings over the next few months as summer kicks in.
“This snake will bite if you get too close or step on it. They try too escape first, then they spit and only as a last resort will they bite,” said Evans.
According to online sources, spitting cobras will lay their eggs in secluded locations, including in rotting logs and under rocks.
The number and size varies with the species and individuals. The large Mozambican spitting cobra can deposit 25 or more large eggs, while the small black-necked cobra may lay only 10 small eggs.