Hunt for 6-metre African rock python near primary school in KZN

The hunt for a monster-sized African rock python is continuing near Ladysmith, Ladysmith Gazette reports.

Residents just outside of Ladysmith in Helpmekaar Road are living in fear, as a 6-metre-plus African rock python has been seen several times in the Ekuvukeni area.

The concern to residents and local snake expert Fanie Cilliers is that the area in which the snake has been spotted is near two primary schools, with children coming and going all the time.

A snake of this size can easily see a small child as prey if there isn’t any natural food source in the area.

Concerned community members at the top of the mountain, waiting to see the snake

READ MORE:  Snake takes a nap in a shop’s fridge

Inside one of the many holes into the burrow

Fanie was in the area on Monday and Wednesday this week, trying to find the snake after it was seen by residents and police, who have photos of the massive reptile.

The snake eluded Fanie on both days, going down a burrow that was made by porcupines that it devoured as prey. Fanie says the burrow is basically a labyrinth of tunnels in a 30-metre radius and is deep down, with tunnels running in different directions, making this catch very tricky.

The snake is a female due to its size and is very likely to be sitting on eggs. A python can lay anything from 20 to 100 eggs, which means that 100 baby African rock pythons could soon be roaming around in the area.

READ MORE

Snake takes a nap in a shop’s fridge

– Caxton News Service

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter