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Africa’s most feared snake, the black mamba, is helping scientists track urban pollution. A groundbreaking study by the University of the Witwatersrand found that the venomous snakes absorb heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic into their bodies, making them powerful indicators of environmental health. By analyzing harmless scale clippings from live snakes or tissue from deceased ones, researchers can accurately measure pollution levels across different landscapes. The research showed mambas in industrial areas carried far higher metal concentrations than those in green spaces. Because black mambas sit atop the food chain and live up to 40 years, they can serve as a powerful tool for mapping environmental health, offering crucial data for both ecosystem and human well-being across the continent. Scientists hope this technique can map pollution hotspots across Africa.
RFI