Soon the Mpumalanga Lowveld will be home to the most technologically advanced mambas on earth.
The first ever microchipped black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) has recently been re-released into the wild by Chris Hobkirk of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority (MTPA). This project is a global first and MTPA hopes it will give them more knowledge about this species.
Mambas found in the Nelspruit region receive these microchips before being released back into the wild. he MTPA decided to monitor the black mamba because it is a relatively common snake in the area and is easily recognisable visually.
Little is known about these snakes and Hobkirk wants to remedy this. In captivity, mambas can live for between 20 and 25 years, but there is no data about their lifespan in the wild. Hobkirk has asked farmers in the area to inform him if they find a mamba on their premises. His phone number is 082 372 3350. – Susan Botes
