Durban snake catcher Nick Evans rescued a three-metre python on the M19 near Pinetown. 

For Evans, what was unusual was that pythons are not usually found in these areas. 

Evan said he was contacted by the eThekwini Municipality about a large python hanging around a patch of bush next to the M19 near New Germany. 

“There’s no pythons there, it will be a Black Mamba”, Evans recalled telling the caller.

He said there probably was a python population in the vicinity many, many decades ago, but they’ve since been wiped out.

He said that while Mambas are also unusual, it was more likely. 

He said he followed them to the spot where they had seen the big snake.

“When we arrived, I got out of my car, armed with my tongs, ready to catch the mamba. Then they pointed out the snake. I was shocked, it was a python.”

Evans said he put his thongs away and planned to grab its head, but the snake tried to escape into thicker bush. 

Evans said that with the help of his companion Joseph, they managed to catch the python. 

So, where did the python come from?

“I don’t believe it’s an escaped pet. Southern African Pythons are a protected species, illegal to keep, and make terrible pets as they don’t calm down.

“Sometimes they’re kept illegally in cruel conditions, not as pets, but for scamming reasons, but such snakes usually have injuries on their snouts from attempting to escape. 

He said there’s an industrial area nearby.

“Maybe, just maybe, it got into a truck somewhere, and got brought to the New Germany area.”

IOL News 

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