After going to Somalia, Gladys was given 10 days to learn the mamba and get to know how to operate it.
'In June, I ran over an IED, which completely destroyed the mamba I was driving.
While their paychecks help their families buy food, the Black Mambas aren't making a great deal of money.
Besides the poor pay and tough living arrangements, the job is also dangerous--not only do the Black Mambas face the very real possibility of encountering armed poachers, they also risk their lives every time they step into the reserve with free-roaming animals like lions and elephants.
Dendroaspis polylepis (black mamba) is one of the most dangerous snakes worldwide.
While feeding a 5-year-old male black mamba, a 34-year-old snake breeder suddenly noticed a tiny bloody mark on his forearm and, at the same time, a slight tingling of his lips.
One of the
Mambas, 22-year-old mother Leitah, proudly says: "Most poachers are men.
"I like the way she mixes colors with floral motifs, and she'll adjust things to your liking," said Mohasseb, who was particularly impressed by The
Mambas Collection.
Bucuane, a striker who has played for the
Mambas for almost two decades, said the Nigeria game was his last before retirement.
Verity, 28, is commander of the squad of high-tech
Mamba vehicles which will go in to clear a path through Serbian minefields.
In design, the
Mamba was like a larger FN Hi-Power, with several additions.
The
mamba is agile on land and water and can stay submerged for three hours.