Original subtitles

It is early morning, and it

is very similar to the conditions we had the other day

when we visited this mechanic's property

and unfortunately came across a dead black mamba.

We have gotten a call.

He has seen another mamba.

So we are in fast pursuit to get out to this property

as fast as we can so that the snake doesn't either, A,

kill another dog or get killed itself.

Black mambas get a bad reputation

as a snake species that will actually chase after you.

That is never going to be the case with any animal.

They're always going to choose flight before fight.

But most importantly, we need to keep ourselves safe

because a bite from one of these animals is a medical emergency.

Nothing comes close to the black mamba just due to its size

and just the immense speed of these snakes.

So yeah, we're going to try to avoid as much as possible

having this human-mamba conflict,

especially with the guys, dogs, and cats.

So we're going to try and get rid of this mamba

and relocate it.

So right now, Tyrone is just flipping

every piece of flat material that he can find,

anywhere this time of day that would be perfect for snakes

to be hiding.

A creepy abandoned building.

Nest full of wasps.

We're going to keep looking.

This is probably a needle in a haystack.

Look at this.

Especially a snake that's grayish, black in color.

Talk about crazy camo if there was a mamba in here.

Well, get on in there.

Let's find that snake.

Well, we've been searching for about 25 minutes now.

I've not seen any snakes.

Seen a lot of other things.

And it's usually when you're looking for a snake

that you don't find a snake.

They always surprise you.

Ooh, that is creepy.

Oh, it's like a rodent superhighway back there.

I don't know if you can see that.

We got a snake! A snake?

Where? Yeah, we got a snake.

Is it a mamba? - It's a mamba.

We got a black mamba.

He's just under this little piece of tile.

Snake!

Hey, we got a snake.

What?

We got a snake.

You got snake?

Is it the mamba?

I think it's a mamba, man.

Really, really, really?

Where? Oh, man.

In here?

You saw it?

Yeah, he's under there.

He looks like a pretty big mamba.

It is a mamba?

It's definitely a mamba.

Shoot, I hope there's no hole back there.

I don't see anything.

Yes, I do.

I see a snake.

Definitely see a snake back there.

Oh, yes.

Dude, I think it's a mamba.

It's grayish in coloration.

All right.

Mamba madness at its finest right here.

That's a mamba.

That is definitely a mamba.

Tyrone, what is the play?

Cool.

So we're going to just move some of the stuff

that's sitting on top here.

I'm going to get a tong on the snake.

We're going to get sort of about 50,

60 centimeters behind the head.

And then we're going to try and get another tong on the snake

just to secure it so when the snake start wiggling

around doesn't put any of us in danger.

- OK. - Yeah.

So we're just going to safely secure the snake

and we're going to go from there.

We're just going to have to be really agile.

These snakes are really unpredictable

and super defensive.

So we just got to be on high alert,

because this is top-tier the most dangerous

snake in the country here. - OK.

This is worst-case scenario because it's

pinned into a corner.

Yeah.

The safest scenario for myself, the crew, and certainly

the snake is going to be to get it inside one of these tubes

so we have control of the head.

All right, I'm here on your command,

so you let me know what you need me to do.

Cool.

So we're just going to get on right to it now.

We're going to move some of this shrapnel out the way.

Yeah, you can see the big coil of the snake right

coming out the back there.

Got a big, big mamba.

Oh, man, yeah.

Cool.

We're going in hot.

You want to lift it? Lift it.

Lift it.

Yeah, we got a black mamba.

OK. Oh!

Jeez. OK.

I'm going to grab it.

Tongs on the snake.

You can see he's puffing up his neck there slightly.

It's a little narrow hood.

One tong is secure.

We're going to grab the secondary part of the snake

here.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Cool.

The snake is secure.

I'm coming out in the open area here.

Wow!

That is a big snake. OK.

So you want me to get the tubes?

Yeah, let's get the tubes going.

OK. What do you think?

Largest tube?

Yeah, let's go with the largest tube.

We're just gently restraining the snake.

We don't want to put too much pressure on him.

Get its head in there.

OK, he's going, he's going.

Let him go.

Let him go a little bit more.

I'm going to-- he's going to reverse.

OK. Do you want to grab it?

Are you comfortable grabbing that?

Just put them all the way up there.

Let me know as soon as you're comfortable.

Yeah, I got-- I'm not comfortable yet.

Yeah, I've still got my thumbs on him.

You're safe.

OK.

Yeah, I want you to just put that back hand,

so like completely holding the tube

and that snake so he cannot reverse because he

is going to pull back.

He's going to pull back, OK.

You don't think he can get out from there?

No, as long as you've got a good grip on him.

Tell me when you're comfortable, I'm going to release the tongs.

OK. Go ahead and release the tongs.

This is nerve-wracking moment.

OK.

And I just-- remember, he may try reverse.

So if he does, just hold him quite in place there.

OK.

You got him.

OK.

Can I work him up a little bit further?

Yeah, you can work him up a little bit further.

Good work.

Oh, my hands are shaking at the moment.

Wow!

That is a very strong snake.

OK.

Oh, watch your face there. Sorry.

There we have it.

That is a black mamba safely tubed.

Rather intense situation, but that went pretty smoothly.

That's how we do it.

We work safely.

I'll catch my breath for a minute.

My heart is racing.

OK.

So the snake is staying pretty calm now.

Let's go out of this enclosure and get ourselves in a spot

that's a little more open.

For any reason I have to drop the snake

and it comes out of the tube, we're in really close quarters.

So, let's slowly move out.

You guys move first.

I'm going to take it really, really slow.

I got a really good, good grip.

Tyrone, you want to check my grip on the snake?

You think that's--

Yeah, we're good there.

Let's just angle it a little bit up just in case he shoots out.

You got it.

Yeah, you got a good grip.

Yeah, you want to secure the tail there.

You're good, Coyote.

Yeah.

Man, this snake is insanely strong.

Whoa.

Man, it is intimidating to hold one of these snakes.

Right just, I'm just to calm my heart rate.

There it is, the notorious black mamba.

It's almost tough to put into words what it's like to hold on

to a black mamba.

This is a species that I have just read about for most

of my life, always hoping that I would see one in the wild

and not actually be hands on with one of the most

dangerous snake species I have ever physically interacted with.

It is definitely a heart-racing encounter.

Now, the black mamba, of course, gets

its name from the black interior coloration of the mouth.

And if I turn it like this and it opens up its mouth,

we'll be able to get a really cool shot of that.

The reason a bite from this snake

is so potentially dangerous is because it

is armed with a highly toxic neurotoxic venom.

If you're bitten by this snake, it

begins to send your body into paralysis, which

shuts down your major organs.

So when your lungs, your liver, your kidneys, and ultimately

your heart begin to cease working,

that's why a bite is so dangerous.

Essentially, you just straight up go into paralysis and die.

If you were ever bitten by a snake like this,

it is an immediate medical emergency.

The big issue that we're looking at here today

is the human-wildlife conflict.

And people are terrified of the black mamba.

Obviously, it has a negative reputation,

but this is not a snake that is interested in interacting

with humans.

A dog was bitten.

Unfortunately, that dog passed away

and the snake was killed in the process.

You have that constantly happening out here,

especially in rural areas.

But these snakes are not to blame.

We are in an area that is perfectly set up for snakes

to be hunting for their food.

You've got abandoned structures.

You've got bags of garbage that has everything

that would draw in rodents.

Where you have rodents, you're going to have

the reptiles that eat them.

So, the more you can do in your own yard to clean up the trash

and make sure that you're not drawing in the prey

items for these snakes, the less of your chance of actually

seeing one of these snakes and ultimately interacting with it.

So the last aspect to today's snake rescue

is to actually relocate this snake to a place that's far away

from human habitation that will give the better

chances for the snake to live out the length of its life

and, of course, will keep the dogs and the humans in this area

completely safe.

Now, is this the resident mamba that we were told about?

It's possible.

It is pretty sizable.

But when you live in an area like this,

there's always going to be another snake, so you can see

why the work that Tyrone does is so incredibly

important here in South Africa.

And a big thanks to him for taking

us out on this rescue mission.

I feel completely fulfilled and that we

have finally found one of these snakes

that we're able to rescue.

It didn't lose its life and we're

doing a good thing for the environment

by getting this predator back out to where it belongs.

I'm Coyote Peterson.

Be brave.

Stay wild.

We'll see you on the next adventure.

OK, we found a pretty cool spot to release the mamba.

We are way back off some dirt road

and we found a beautiful dry riverbed.

It is just perfect mamba habitat.

Grasses, trees, likely a lot of food.

So, we're going to get the snake out.

And this is another success story

for Tyrone in successfully rescuing and relocating

a venomous snake.

Good morning. - Welcome.

- Good to see you. - Welcome to the park.

Good to see you. - What's up?

You'll earn that.

OK, I see how this is going to go.

All right. Welcome to the obstacle course.

This is how we're going to start your formal training

as a ranger.

Everybody has to go through this to accomplish the goal

of getting into the field.

OK.

Let's swap hats so we can get you started and ready.

OK.

Cowboy hat coming off.

Oh, this is cool.

I'm going to introduce you to the lead instructor.

I can tell he already likes me.

All right.

Welcome to the obstacle course.

OK.

You will complete each and every obstacle.

If I see you walking, you will repeat the obstacle.

If you do not complete the obstacle correctly,

you will redo the obstacle.

Do you understand? - Yes.

All right.

I don't like to talk a lot. Let's go.

OK.

Just hop right into it. - Yup.

Let's go. - OK.

We're going.

He's just here to push me along or--

You talk too much. Let's go.

OK.

And go!

Come on, move it!

Come on!

Hook that hand over.

Go low.

Come on, that's it.

Run, run, run, run, run.

Down, under.

Now over.

Under.

Over.

Time is running.

Yup.

Let's go, come on.

Let's go! Challeging.

Let's go!

Ah!

And go back.

Come on!

Yes, move it, move it.

This is not a walking exercise.

Let's go. No hesitation.

Straight in. No hesitation.

Straight in. Get in, get in.

Move!

Go, go, go, go!

Go!

Move it!

Come on, finish the mission.

Let's go!

Come on!

No walking!

No walking!

I'll make you redo this.

If you lose your grip, you'll go again.

Come on, Coyote.

Let's go, let's go, let's go, lets go.

Leopard crawl.

On your stomach.

Go, go, go, go.

Keep your head down!

Come on. Run, run, run.

Up over and around. Let's go.

Dig deep. Let's go, mate.

Let's go, dig deep.

Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.

Let's go! Let's go!

Up, up, up.

Come on!

Good work, Coyote!

Good work!

Come on, this is not a face-pulling exercise.

Good.

You're done.

Let's go.

Run, run, run, run!

Let's go! Let's go!

Let's go!

Come on, put some feet on it!

Put some feet on it! Let's go!

- Straight in. - Come on!

Straight in. No hesitation.

Let's go. - Let's go!

No walking!

Come on, this is not a cooldown session.

Let's move!

Come on!

It is slippery.

Come on, grandma!

Come on, man.

Come on.

Let's go!

Let's go!

Up.

I said no walking!

I'll make you redo it!

Up here, up here, up here.

Hey, concentrate.

Keep your head straight.

Come on, come on.

This is not a standing around exercise.

Come on.

Let's go, let's go.

Keep moving.

It's a mediocre effort.

Mediocre effort.

Come on, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up.

There we go. Pick it up.

You got a lot left in the game.

I'm not impressed at this moment.

Let's go.

Let's pick it up.

Get down.

Get down. Go.

Run!

Under.

Come on, go under!

Let's push, let's push, let's push.

Come on. No walking!

Come on. - Jump over!

Jump over!

Go under.

Jump over.

Go under.

Let's go, let's go, let's go! - Let's push.

Come on.

You can. - That's walking.

Hey, hey, hey.

Come back here. Come back here.

That's walking.

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

I don't have time for this walking.

You gotta come down!

Do it again!

Go, Coyote.

Push it.

Come on! Come on!

That's it, running.

Good.

Come on.

Catch it, catch it.

Come on, Coyote!

Come on.

You gotta prove this to yourself now.

Come on.

Come on, Coyote!

Come on, put some effort into it.

Yeah, good man, good man.

Make it work.

Let's go. Yes!

There we go.

Now you're working.

You wait until the end before you start working.

Let's go.

Good man.

And time.

Holy crap.

Why are you lying around?

Get up. - Hold on.

What do you think this is?

No holding on. On your feet!

On your feet! On your feet!

Get up!

Get up!

Stand up.

How do you feel?

Maybe the hardest thing I've ever done.

Holy cow.

You want to know your time?

Sure.

Four minutes, 44 seconds.

Really?

Yes.

Is that decent?

- No. - Oh.

Good news is we're going to pass

you to the next level for the next set of the course training.

OK.

Here is your ranger shirt.

Oh, man.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

That's an honor right there.

Can I lay down and go to sleep with this?

You can't sleep in that, but you'll

wear it on duty and during the rest of your training.

I think I'm going to puke.

Woo!

I can't even begin

to tell you guys how unbelievably difficult that was.

I would love to go on "American Ninja Warrior."

I think I've got some training to do.

For as much as I might be crying right now,

these rangers go through this almost daily.

It takes a massive amount of endurance,

mentally and physically, to be strong enough

to be an APU ranger.

Beyond the obstacle course, which was honestly

one of the most physically demanding challenges I have ever

been through, I spent an additional 14 hours training

under the guidance of Global Conservation

Force President Mike Veale.

And I got a taste for what it takes

to become a frontline ranger.

Throughout the day, we spent hours

in the scorching sun surveying reserve perimeter fence lines.

I learned about field tracking, snare identification

and dismantling and, finally, the art of camouflage.

People always ask, does Coyote Peterson wear makeup on camera?

Today, I do.

In what seemed like the longest hour of my life,

as I was transformed into a shrub

and made to lay completely motionless amongst

tick-infested underbrush for an entire hour, trust me,

it was brutal.

So from a perspective like this, what a ranger will do

is have great observation of the environment.

So with a pair of binoculars or night vision goggles,

you can see anything moving off in the distance here.

Hunker down for the night, hopefully nothing unnatural

passes by.

And if it does, then you spring into action and boom,

just like that, the team is in place.

So like I said, becoming an APU-certified ranger

is difficult, and it definitely takes more than 14 hours.

But those who complete and pass the course

carry with them an honor of the highest regard,

and are celebrated as warriors who defend our planet's

wild places and animal species.