Cobra and puff adder snake fight on SA road – WATCH
A video of a cobra and puff adder engaged in an epic life and death dual on a South African road has gone viral.
It is unclear when or where the minute-long video was taken but it has been shared countless times on social media. The source is unnamed.
The video begins with a shot of what first appears to be one long snake, but as the car inches closer it becomes clear that there are in fact two snakes – either a snouted cobra or a Cape cobra and a puff adder – twisting into each other.
Watch:
However, Herpetologist Tyrone Ping said these snakes were not fighting but engaged in a predation event.
“The cobra is feeding on the puff adder. Many cobra species feed on other snakes especially slow-moving snakes like the adders,” said Ping.
He added: “Snakes make perfect prey for other snakes as they do not encounter limbs, fur or feathers, making it so easy to swallow.
“Many of these species are somewhat tolerant to the venom of other snakes, so as you see in the video the puff adder is biting the cobra but the venom will not kill the large cobra.”
Ping said this video has been around for some time, but details were a little sketchy as to the exact location.
Ping noted that it this was a common occurrence.
“It’s an interesting interaction but seen often in places like the Kalahari and such areas.”
Another Durban snake catcher Jason Arnold also cited this as “common.”
“Cobras feed on other snakes, so it’s pretty commonly seen. This is either a snouted cobra or a cape cobra eating a puff adder.”
Arnold said it was interesting to watch.
-IOL
In other news – Meet the person behind R1.3 million nightclub bill; Passion Java, a Zimbabwean ‘prophet’
If you’ve so much as logged on to a social media site this weekend, then you probably saw the wild antics of partygoers at the 012 Lifestyle venue in Pretoria. A whopping R1.3 million bar bill was racked up – and Passion Java was the man picking up the tab.
Allegedly, Java – who has become a multi-millionaire through his work as an eccentric pastor – was not in attendance on Saturday, but he had no problems with paying the seven-figure sum. Learn More
