Durban — A three-metre southern African rock python that had already eaten several geese eggs on a farm has been captured.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram. said that on Christmas morning, a southern African rock python measuring approximately three metres was captured on a farm in Emona.
He said that a farmer contacted Rusa at approximately 8.52am after he spotted the female juvenile snake near his geese enclosure. The python had consumed several geese eggs.
“Andrew Douglas from Ndlondlo Reptile Park was contacted and on arrival, captured the feisty reptile which will be relocated to a more suitable location,” Balram said.
In a video, the python is seen lunging at Douglas a few times as he tries to capture it. Eventually, he manages to capture the snake but lets go.
A few seconds later he captures it again, by its tail, and places it in a plastic storage container before sealing it.
In October, Durban snake catcher Nick Evans stumbled on a “dream kind of sighting” while at one of his study sites.
Evans said that recently while at one of his study sites, he “bumped into these three beautiful southern African pythons. There was actually a fourth, which disappeared before I took the photo.”
“This is typical mating behaviour. Males will congregate around a female (the larger of the three),” Evans said.
He said it was the very end of python mating season, most of which occurs in the winter months.
“Of course, they all vanished once they sensed me. I obviously felt bad. But I certainly wasn't expecting to bump into them in the thick reeds,” Evans said.
“They'll link back up very quickly. Males can smell that female from far away.”
Evans added that studying the species had been “absolutely fascinating and exciting”.
Daily News