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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by LongDucDong on March 9, 2006
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I guess I should have researched this a bit before I responded... Ive never heard of such accounts before, which made me a disbeliever. In all possibilities, this could very well be a factual case! I just really have a hard time fathoming 11 people being consistently bit and all bites being fatal. Not that a mamba isnt capable, it just seems like something out of a horror movie. I would be extremely interested if someone could find out more about this alleged story. Either that or someone could submit this to the Mythbusters crew... haha
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by toddg on March 9, 2006
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No worries Steve. This type of an attack is unprecedented. I also share your skepticism.
toddg
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by Chris_Harper on March 9, 2006
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I read a reference to that story in a Peter Hathaway Capstick article once that said a Rhodesian black mamba killed 11 people and 1 sheep in 30 minutes in a crowded village. Apparently it was like tossing a black mamba into the crowd at Times Square on New Years Eve, but hotter. :-) I don't doubt that this is possible.
The story about the mamba killing a family of 7 is a reasonably verified fact.
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by Chris_Harper on March 9, 2006
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Also, keep in mind that all Black mamba bites prior to antivenom were 100% fatal. But also keep in mind that there wasn't a 2006 model big city ICU available to provide supportive care and ventilation.
~CH
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by LarryDFishel on March 9, 2006
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>In theory a killer whale is the most dangerous fish
Actually the sperm whale... Just kidding. :)
Todd: ...believe that would bring about an end to the “What’s the Most Dangerous Snake in the World” debate.
Larry: How so?
Todd: I'm not interested in the most "dangerous snake in the world” debate
OK...
Todd: Certainly if such a feat were possible...
Larry: I have no problem believing that IF they got bit..
Todd: I also did not wish to evoke the “is it possible” camp...
OK...
>As to “how” it would end such a debate? I’m unaware of any “multiple homicides” being attributed to ANY other snake.
I guess if you could get everyone else to agree that the only reasonable definition of "most dangerous snake" is the one with the most deaths attributed to the same snake and not the one with the potential to kill the most, or the species that kills the most, or the one that's most likely to kill you in the event of a bite...or 14 other possible interpretations...
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by Cro on March 9, 2006
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Here is some of what C.J.P. Ionides had to say in his autobiography, Mambas and Man-Eaters. ``Many years before I was born a frightful mamba accident is reported to have occurred in a village in South Africa. A black mamba dropped out of the grass roof of a hut on a sleeping family, a man, his wife and four children. The family woke up, and in the panic the snake bit five of them before escaping tghrough the door. All five died. That incident has now been translated to Newala where I live, the number of people killed has increased to eight, the black mamba has become a green mamba and I am the five-star hero who captured it.``
Apparently, this is the story that was attributed to Ionides in the opening chapter of the book Snake Man, by Alan Wykes.
Ionides also says in Manmbas and Man-Eaters, ``Of alleged entirely unprovoked attacks by the black mamba I have little reliable evidence. There is the account by my friend Charles Pitman in his book The Snakes of Uganda, in which he gives the case in Northern Rhodesia many years ago of a rogue black mamba that started by chasing sheep and goats and ended by killing eleven people, most of whom died within half an hour. The nearest I ever got to that sort of multiple killer was at a place in Mtwara district where four people were killed in one year and three in the following year, all attacked in one particular spot which seemed to be the haunt of a snake of snakes.``
So we can see how someone can distort the above stories into 11 people being killed in one attack.
By the way, both of the Ionides books are fun reads. Old C.J.P. captured over 3000 green mambas and about 200 black mambas over the years, as well as many other snakes that went to zoos all over the world. They can often be found on Ebay at very reasonable prices, especially the book Snake Man. Both make a great addition to a Herpetologists library.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by stopgetinpopped on March 9, 2006
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I would definately agree, both of the books on Ionides are great. I can't tell you how many times I've sat and read them!
Just since it was mentioned in Ionides quote from above. I just ebayed Snakes of Uganda, there is one copy available for 2500.00
A very good friend of mine had the 1st addition copy and he moved several years ago and let his then fiancee move his book collection...Snakes of Uganda never showed up. We think she sold it without his permission...and likely for a fraction of what it was worth...Man, I'm glad he never married her! I think I would have skinned her alive for that one!
regards,
T-
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RE: 11 fatalities in one attack?!?
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by keyz on March 10, 2006
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check out http://animal.discovery.com/fantasies/wildkingdom/blackmamba/quiz/quiz.html
As you can see there is a Mamba quiz here and they are talking about mamba tales, one of which involves a family and a Black Mamba, needless to say they all died (allegedly).
keyz.
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