BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Pythons never eat or swallow humans and it is illegal to kill these protected species.
This is according to Dr Chris Hobkirk of the Mpumalanga Parks Board Agency who urged community members to immediately contact the agency should they spot one in their neighbourhood.
This comes after Madala Manzini (76) of Edinburgh Village near Thulamahashe, and his family escaped death after a 3,5m python slithered into their yard last week.
The shocked Manzini said they had just gone to bed when his dog started barking in a strange way that prompted him to check what the problem was.
“I quickly rushed out with my wife and son and we were shocked to find a huge python coiled up with a dead chicken next to it,” Manzini said.
He added that his wife then raised alarm for help and neighbours came out with spades and fought the creature, which was also fighting back, for about an hour until they finally crushed its head with a stone.
According to Manzini, it seems as if the snake had been feeding on his chickens for years now.
“For almost five years, the python has swallowed over 40 of my chickens and we used to find its trail leading us to the bush. Now it had paid the price,” said Manzini’s wife, Ms Yingwasi.
But Hobkirk says it is actually the community members who could pay the price for killing it since they could be liable for a fine.
“I understand they thought their safety was threatened and we still have to engage with communities to teach them about the safety of pythons. They will never eat or swallow humans, but can eat and swallow up dogs, goats and chickens.
These type of snakes are actually threatened by people and will try to find a hiding place, but will definitely try to fight back if it is provoked, so the best way is to keep a distance from it,” he added.
People can contact Hobkirk on 082-372-3350 and he promises to immediately send the right people who know how to handle pythons.
