The Czech zoo is now one of the very few in the world to house three different species of African mamba at the same time. Visitors have the rare opportunity to observe, in a single exhibit, three of the world’s fastest and most venomous snakes: the black mamba, the eastern green mamba and Jameson’s mamba, also known as the western green mamba.
African snakes brought together in one place
The “Poisonous Africa” exhibit features one of Europe’s most important collections of venomous African snakes. According to zoologist Michal Podhrázský, bringing together three mamba species within the same exhibit is an exceptional achievement, even by international zoo standards.
Mambas are considered among the fastest and most venomous snakes in the world. Their venom contains powerful neurotoxins that can be extremely dangerous, although these reptiles generally avoid contact with humans whenever possible.
Safety and specialist expertise
Safari Park emphasises that caring for these animals requires highly trained staff and strict safety protocols. During feeding sessions, the reptile house is closed to visitors and keepers always work using specialised equipment, avoiding any direct contact with the snakes.
The team’s expertise is also demonstrated by its numerous breeding successes with rare African snake species over the years, including several European and world firsts.
Three species adapted to different habitats
Although they all belong to the same genus (Dendroaspis), the three mamba species have evolved to thrive in different natural environments.
The eastern green mamba inhabits the coastal forests of East Africa, while Jameson’s mamba lives in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. Their distinctive bright green colour provides excellent camouflage among the vegetation.
The black mamba, by contrast, is found in savannahs and rocky habitats. Despite its name, its body is grey to olive-brown; the species takes its name from the jet-black colour inside its mouth, which it displays as a defensive warning. It can exceed three metres in length, making it the longest venomous snake in Africa.
Two young newcomers
The two newly arrived eastern green mambas are both under two years old and, once fully grown, will reach a length of around two metres, similar to that of Jameson’s mamba.
In addition to the three mamba species, the “Poisonous Africa” exhibit and the adjoining aquatic ecosystems area are home to several other African snakes of significant conservation interest, including Cape cobras, forest cobras, Atheris bush vipers, Nitsche’s bush vipers and the extremely rare Cape vine snake, a species for which Safari Park has achieved breeding results regarded as unique worldwide.
