Pretoria - Houdini, the Pretoria zoo’s infamous black mamba, has been found.
Almost a month after his escape, the two-metre-long black mamba was spotted on Sunday slithering along a wall of the reptile park’s service area - where zoo staff suspected him of being all along.
Houdini, named after the famous United States escape artist Harry Houdini, was found at about noon by Harry Seakamela, a reptile park staffer.
Zoo staff are certain the lethally venomous snake is Houdini because of a “distinguishing kink” in his tail, the result of an injury he suffered before he was donated to the zoo.
Craig Allenby, the zoo’s marketing manager, said Houdini would be kept in a darkened container for a few days. “Snakes are often stressed after being caught. He is being kept in a darkened container to keep him calm,” he said.
It is suspected the mamba had not eaten since his escape.
He also did not touch any of the food placed in the service area to lure him, but snakes can go weeks without eating.
It is also possible that Houdini could have found other prey, such as small rodents or birds. “He is in a good condition and will be fed later in the week,” Allenby said.
Reptile park staff first noticed Houdini was missing on Monday, March 11, when his enclosure was found empty.
The entire reptile park was closed off for two days and an extensive search for the sneaky snake was launched.
Extra staff were also called in to help with the search and to ensure visitor safety.
Allenby said the zoo had received numerous phone calls from visitors wanting to know whether it would be safe to visit with a mamba on the loose.
The Pretoria News reported last month that the snake would have had to pass three solid doors to gain access to the public and Allenby gave assurances that visitors would not encounter the snake.
Since the early days of the snake’s disappearance, Allenby had said it was suspected he had gone up into the roof of the service area. It was difficult for staff to access the roof due to its awkward angle and air-conditioning vents that obstruct movement. On finding Houdini, Allenby said all signs indicate he had moved into the roof.
On Human Rights Day, Timeless Technologies tried to find the snake with thermal imaging cameras, designed to pick up heat emitted by the snake, but all in vain.
When several attempts to find Houdini failed, zoo staff feared he had been stolen. “A market exists for the trade in illegal indigenous reptiles such the black mamba,” Allenby said. Black mambas can sell for R2 000 on the black market.
Unless a permit is issued by authorities, it is illegal to keep a black mamba. Often, only institutions, such as zoos, are allowed to keep such reptiles. “We are glad it is over with a happy ending,” said Allenby. Houdini will soon be back on display
, he said.
Pretoria News has reliably learnt that before his escape, the snake had only been on display for two months, but had been at the zoo for more than two years. “At least he’s back now,” the source said. - Pretoria News