WATCH: Bloem homeowner comes face-to-face with massive cobra
In South Africa, home intruders come in all shapes, sizes and species.
Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) snakes are often encountered in urban areas of the highveld, and while many assume it is part of the cobra family, it actually falls into its own genus and is not a true cobra.
These snakes are quite common in Bloemfontein, but this recent encounter that was captured on video was a bit unusual.
Dr Cora Stobie, a Herpetologist, Evolutionary Biologist, and senior museum scientist at the National Museum in Bloemfontein, says that rinkhals snakes are more prevalent on the western side of the city.
The video, taken by an unknown homeowner, shows a seriously intimidating rinkhals that has made its way into the house and is blocking the door.
The rinkhals is periscoping, which means it is raising its head and "standing up", clearly unimpressed by the person filming the video and strikes at the camera.
According to Netwerk24, the incident happened at a home on Athlone Street in Westdene, Bloemfontein, on the northern side of the city, which makes this encounter slightly surprising.
Watch the video here:
@netwerk24 'n Video van 'n yslike rinkhals wat in 'n huis in Westdene orent staan en blaas soos hy na die kamera pik, het inwoners van dié Bloemfonteinse woonbuurt op hul hoede. Wat sou jy doen as jy hierdie rinkhals in jou huis gewaar? Vertel ons in die kommentaarafdeling. Lees meer deur die skakel in ons bio.🔗 #Bloemfontein #netwerk24 #nuusinafrikaans
♬ original sound - Netwerk24
Snakecatcher Stephan Fourie says he catches an average of 25 to 30 rinkhals snakes a year in Bloemfontein and that all the snakes are rehomed to areas outside the city.
This particular snake was caught and freed in a safe environment next to the Maselspoort road.
Fourie emphasises that although rinkhals' are not aggressive, they are highly venomous and can spit venom into a person's eye, making them very dangerous.
Dr Stobie also says that the Cape Cobra is often spotted in the eastern side of the city, and pofadders mostly on the outskirts of the city.
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Image: Getty Images