NOT long after hearing that Pippa, the Southern African Rock Python rescued from a storm-water culvert in Shongweni last month, was making a slow recovery at the Dangerous Creatures Exhibit at the uShaka Village Walk and was set to be released back into the wild, the sad news that Pippa had suddenly taken a turn for the worse and had died was received.
The 3m long reptile’s recovery was featured in Berea Mail this week. Ann Kunz of Ushaka Marine World confirmed Pippa’s ‘sudden’ and ‘unexpected’ death this morning. “She was doing so well. After she was brought into our rehabilitation centre she had warmed up and our veterinary team had very high hopes for her recovery,” she said.
Then Pippa took an turn for the worse.
“It happened almost overnight. It was something we did not expect. It happened so suddenly that our veterinary team did not update us on the situation before the media releases telling of her recovery had been sent out,” added Kunz.
The exact cause of Pippa’s death is still unknown, but Kunz said they suspected liver damage.
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