A video of a giant python “climbing of tree” in the Delareyville area in the North West has everyone buzzing.
By Suzanne Venter
The video shows how a giant python of about 4m sails up a tree. The snake is so large that it almost seems as if she is climbing the tree. You hear the sound of breaking branches, while astonished bystanders watch. The snake is also quite thick, and someone in the video notes she appears to be about to give birth.
Our sister publication, Landbouweekblad, spoke to the farmer who took the video. He says he does not want to say exactly where he saw the snake, since too many people are now trying to locate it.
“There are people who want to search for the python and sell her for muti. We are afraid that she will be hurt,” says the farmer who, for the python’s sake, does not want his name published.
Pythons are an endangered species
Landbouweekblad reached out to snake expert Arno Naudé of Snake Bite Assist for answers.
“I would first like to point out that pythons are on the special list of endangered species in South Africa. Persons who kill a python can be fined up to R20 million or 20 years in prison, in exceptional cases. The norm these days is R8 million or R12 million, or eight to twelve years in prison,” warns Naudé.
He confirms that the snake in the video is a female, approximately 10 or 12 years old.
“It is strange that the snake decided to sail up the tree. I suspect there was something on the ground that posed a threat to her, or perhaps she was scared due to the large number of people in the area. Pythons are taught from an early age to sail up the nearest tree if they are afraid and feel threatened,” says Naudé.
He goes on to say that she is so fat because she has eggs inside her that need to be fertilised, or may already have been fertilised.
Go to snakebiteassist.co.za for more information or follow Snake Bite Assist on Facebook.
