KZN Amphibian and Reptile Conservation’s Nick Evans was delighted that the python he rescued, early this morning, is indeed pregnant as X-rays proved.
“The past 10 days, I’ve been busy speaking to the staff of the electricity department of the municipality,” said Nick.
“This morning, at 6.30am, one of those workers phoned me. He lives in Inanda and, on his way to work, he came across community members standing on a low lying bridge looking into the river. There was a python.”
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Apparently the python had been seen crossing the road, before being chased into the river.
Residents were worried the large snake could be a threat to the children and some threw rocks at the snake but it quickly took refuge under a boulder.
“I told the caller to please stay with it, even though it meant he would be late for work. I arrived to find quite a few people standing around.
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“One man who looked like he was guarding the snake, pointed it out to me.
“The snake was wrapped around the boulder, desperately trying to get completely underneath it.
“In one section the body seemed to be stuck between two rocks, perhaps it got wedged in its panic. But it managed to free itself.
“I picked up the large snake which was now freezing, and not able to move much. I noticed how swollen the tail end was and I was sure it is pregnant.
“The people thanked me which was great. Some thought the snake was so beautiful. But I was so grateful to Zekhaya Vincent Mkhungo who called me. He did so well.
“For me, it was rewarding because I felt like my talks had made a difference,” added Nick.
About the python
The python, a Southern African Python (Python natalensis) is about 3m in length, not a specimen that’s going to be capable of eating anyone. It also has no interest in people.
It is a protected species so it is illegal to kill it. Unfortunately, many people kill the pythons from fear or for traditional medicine.
Nick took the python to Dangerous Creatures at Ushaka Marine World for X-rays to see if the rocks that hit it had broken any bones. And for the eggs, of course.
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