- The python was rescued from a den under the stairs of a deck at Zimbali Eco-Estate in Ballito.
- The snake was four metres long and weighed 33 kilograms.
- The rescuers were also attacked by a swarm of bees.
- The rescue effort stretched on into the night, and lasted 6 hours.
- For more stories visit Business insider South Africa.
A four-metre-long pregnant python, weighing a whopping 33 kilograms, is resting peacefully after a marathon 6-hour rescue operation at Zimbali Eco-Estate in Ballito, in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this week.
Durban snake catcher Nick Evans said the python was rescued from a den under the stairs of a deck at the estate. The snake had apparently been basking on the deck, and then retreated underneath it.
“To me, this would be a dream come true for my garden. I'd sit and watch it everyday! But, this isn't something many people would like. There were guests renting out the house for the holidays. They were rather anxious, and I believe the homeowner wasn't too chuffed either. So, it had to go,” Evans said in a Facebook post.
Evans and fellow rescuer Nick Saunders eventually had to dig the snake out.
“We had to dig holes for us to get it. It was hard work! We soon learnt she wasn't on eggs. But from the glimpses of her body, we could tell she was gravid (carrying eggs). Little did we know, we were right next to a bee hive, in a drain. We learnt the hard way. Nick Saunders, who joined to help and I received multiple stings on our head, neck and I even got one between the eyes and ear. We were in a lot of pain,” he told IOL.
The team had to call in a bee remover to get rid of the angry swarm before rescue operations could resume. Six hours later the rescue mission was completed.
“Everyone was overjoyed, yet just left in awe at the enormous size of her! She was a giant! Massive!” Evans added.
A veterinary team confirmed that the python was “absolutely full of eggs”.
The snake is yet to pop, and will be released once she and her babies are ready.
“She is in a comfy little home for now till she lays her eggs,” Evans told Business Insider on Wednesday morning.
Compiled by Estrelita Moses.
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