LAST Sunday’s call-out to retrieve a “large snake” on the side of Link Road, Waterfall, turned out to be a mammoth python.
KZN Amphibian and Reptile Foundation’s Nick Evans tells the dramatic story of how he managed to capture it.
Val and Wolf Sperryn were driving home when they saw the large snake crossing the busy road.
ALSO READ: Durban snake catcher captures 11 snakes in one week
How it got across without being hit is a miracle! They drove past, turned around, and pulled over to try and help. They knew this snake couldn’t be left in a residential area.
They saw it trying to get under a driveway gate, but it turned back and hid among some Iris’s on the verge.
They phoned a snake enthusiast in the area, Brett Markwell, who then phoned me. Joelle and I were just about to have dinner when the call came through. We dropped everything and raced over!
When we arrived, Val and Wolf were still standing watch. They were both very concerned for the well-being of the snake, which for me was nice to see. More people need such an attitude!
Wolf, who used to catch snakes, and I stepped into the patch of Iris to try and locate the snake. I soon discovered it about two feet in front of me. It was curled up, its patterns and colours camouflaging it very well among the vegetation.
It soon grew irritated with our presence and started to move. Joelle was standing next to me when we saw the head appear out of the Iris’s, about 1.5m from where the body was curled up. We could now tell this was a biggie!
ALSO READ: Crikey! Highway snake man catches 2 metre croc
I stepped closer to the head, as it slowly moved along. I paused, waited for my moment, and dived! I grabbed the head, but the python was so strong it just kept moving, with me holding on! I then weighed it down with my body weight, in an attempt to stop it. It wrapped its tail around my left wrist. They do this when threatened, hoping the ‘attacker’ releases it, or it tries to pull its head free using the tail as leverage.
I struggled to stand up with the large snake in my hands. I got Joelle to lift the body up over my head, and rest it on my shoulders, making it easier for me to stand up and walk out of the bushes. But not much easier!
Joelle helps Nick Evans to hold the enormous python.When I walked out onto the verge, I placed the snake down on the ground. It was surprisingly relaxed, barely moving.
This species is notoriously grumpy when agitated. It lay so nicely that I let Val and Wolf come and feel the muscle of the beast that they had just helped save. I did hold the head to be safe, at first.
After seeing how relaxed the snake was, I felt that I didn’t need to hold onto the head any longer. Wrong move! As I released the head it sprung into action.
It tried darting off into the Iris’s. Joelle and I grabbed the tail and tried pulling it back out, but it was too strong! It was winning the tug-of-war! I let go and went after the head, which I soon secured. We took no chances after that, putting it straight into a bucket!
ALSO READ: Nick Evans rescues baby Spitting Cobra in Westville
The Dangerous Creatures and veterinary team at Ushaka Marine World helped me weigh and measure it. It stretched out at 3.9 metres long, and weighed an incredible 31 kilograms! An enormous snake! The biggest I’ve rescued, and the healthiest I’ve seen. It’s in superb condition!
I would usually expect to see a python of this size in rural areas or reserves, not suburbia! It must have come from the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.
In the reserve, it would be feeding on Blue Duiker, Dassies, any other small mammal including the occasional monkey, and Monitor Lizards too.
MORE ABOUT THE SPECIES
This is a Southern African Python (previously known as the Rock Python). It is South Africa’s largest snake species.
They can grow to 5m+, so this one still has some growing to do. Although, specimens of such size are increasingly rare.
Female pythons are exceptional mothers, that are capable of laying more than 40 eggs. They will lay them in an large, abandoned animal burrow. Not only will she fiercely protect her eggs, but she will actually incubate them too. The mother python will go out on sunny days and bask. Once warmed up, she will return to her brood, coil around the eggs and therefore keep them warm. She keeps them at around 30 degrees Celsius. Incredible!
PYTHON PREVALENCE IN THE HIGHWAY AREA?
Southern African Pythons have become very rare in the Highway area.
Decades ago, big specimens were not uncommon. At the Bergtheil Museum in Westville, there are photos of huge pythons being caught in the Palmiet Nature Reserve (Westville).
A python has not been seen in that reserve for years, and is presumed extinct. This is their status in many natural areas around Durban. This species is sought after in the muthi trade or it is often killed and eaten. Like rhino horn, factually, it serves no medicinal purpose, and so killing it is a real waste. They are also killed out of fear, as many snakes are.
Nowadays, pythons are seen in areas such as Inanda and Shongweni, where they are sometimes found to be eating residents chickens. They’re also found further west and north. They become more prevalent in large game reserves. They are of course still present in the Kloof gorge area and are occasionally seen there too.
ARE THEY A THREAT TO US? WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF WE SEE ONE?
This species is not venomous, however, it has rows of needle-like teeth, and so it can inflict a very painful bite. It deserves a lot of respect and should be left alone. If you leave it alone, it will not bite you. They do not hunt people.
There has been historic records of enormous pythons eating children, in wild areas, but I cannot remember when last there was a confirmed record of such an instance. This specimen would not target children. I cannot, admittedly, say the same about small dogs and cats, though.
ALSO READ: WARNING: High temperatures increase slithery activity
On the very rare occasion you may find a python in your garden (you’d have to live on the edge of a wild area), call a snake-catcher to have it safely removed and relocated.
This species is protected by law. It is illegal to kill, keep or sell this species.
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
To receive our free newsletter click here.
