LOCAL snake-catcher, Nick Evans, rescued a three-metre Southern African Rock Python, which is a protected species, in Inanda recently.
According to Evans who works at the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, the python was spotted eating a chicken at the back of someone’s house in Maphephetheni. The owner of the house, Caroline Chili, who worked in Hillcrest was notified and immediately contacted her friend, Holly Cairns who gave her Nick’s contact details.
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Evans and his friend, Keith Botha fetched Chili from work and she directed them to her home.
“Apparently someone wanted to kill it, but it went into a bush. So we had to really rush. It was either going to be killed there and then, or at a later stage,” said Evans.
He said witnesses informed him that the snake was first seen wrapped around the chickens body, constricting it (their means of killing it as they don’t have venom), after finishing its meal, it moved into a savannah thicket, a mixture of long grass and dense patches of bush.
Evans and Botha searched in the scorching heat for 20 minutes. Just as they were about to give up, they heard something moving in the grass, about 20 metres from where it was first seen by the house. It was the snake, and Evans caught it. He said it was a healthy specimen and thankfully, the snake did not regurgitate its chicken lunch as snakes normally do after being captured.
“I gave everyone who was there a chance to touch the snake, to overcome some of their fear. They used to always kill snakes, but now that they have my number, they promised not to. I explained that, with all the hunting and habitat destruction in the area, at the hands of people, pythons are short of food and living space. Chickens are a good and easy alternative. I was so delighted. I’ve only ever had two python calls before, so this was very exciting,” said Evans.
He added that The Southern African Python, or Rock Python as it was previously named and more popular referred to, is a protected species. It is illegal to kill it. He had to hand the animal in to the authorities, who will then release it.
Threats to nature
Evans said this specimen measured out at exactly three metres, but some specimens, usually in wild areas, can grow to more than five metres.
“In the Highway Area, their numbers have been decimated over the last few decades. They are virtually extinct in some areas that they used to be abundant in (such as the Palmiet Valley). They are prized in the muthi trade, killed for their skin, and also out of fear, because people worry about their pets and children,” said Evans.
Evans said that another factor in their decline is probably the fact that decent food for them is scarce, such as Duiker and Bushbuck. Also, growing to massive sizes is not really sustainable, as they’d mostly only have small meals to capture.
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Snake tales
He said cases where pythons have eaten children are rare. The snakes usually try to steer clear of people, but if harassed, they’re capable of lunging out, defending themselves.
“While they have no venom, they do have rows of curved teeth, which will inflict a nasty bite. But, should you see a python and stand five metres or more away, you will be absolutely fine.,” said Evans.
Evans said that society needs to conserve each and every last python as it is an iconic species and one of the largest snakes in Southern Africa.
“I hope this snake lives a long, happy life in its new home, producing future generations of pythons. These snakes are simply beautiful, powerful and awesome animals,” said Evans.
For snake removals in the greater Durban area, contact Nick Evans on 072 809 5806.
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