A South African python has been rescued on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africans love snake rescue stories: just look at the TV show “Snakes in the City,” now in its 10th season, in which Simon Keys and Suzie Gillett travel around KwaZulu-Natal rescuing snakes, or snake rescuer Nick Evans, who has about 75,000 followers on his Facebook page, where he documents his snake rescue efforts.
An escapist experience recently took place at the Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottsburg, when the team rescued a 3.8m-long South African python from a Renishaw farm near the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
The snake was of medium size, given that the species can grow up to five metres in length, with males weighing up to 44 kilograms and females reaching around 50 kilograms.
Crocworld's animal curator, Busani Mthiyane, received a call from workers who noticed a “very large” snake at the site. A team headed to the scene and noticed the snake had a small wound. The snake was sedated and taken to Dr Jonathan Clark at Scottburgh Veterinary Clinic, where it was cleaned and given a thorough medical examination, according to the statement.
The plan is to release Python somewhere safe.
“She is recovering well and will be released into a suitable environment later this week,” Clock World manager James Wittstock said.
The snake is listed as “endangered” in the latest South African Red Data Book, which means it should not be captured or killed.
According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sambi), the species is valuable in sugarcane fields because it preys on sugarcane mice.
Pythons are used by traditional healers to communicate with ancestors and for medicinal purposes, python oil is used in the beauty industry and python skin is made into fashion items such as bags, belts and shoes.
Although they don't have venom glands, they can deliver a vicious bite if they feel threatened. “The bite can damage tissue and cause infection if not properly treated,” Sambi said.