SINGAPORE: A reticulated python found itself in a tight spot, after getting stuck in a narrow pipe at a drain near Clarke Quay MRT on Tuesday (Feb 18).
The snake was later freed in a rescue attempt which took about five hours by National Parks Board (NParks) officers.
A video posted to the Singapore Wildlife Sightings page on Facebook shows the top portion of the roughly 2m-long python stuck in a pipe connected to the drain. The rest of its black, yellow and beige body, with a diamond pattern running along it, is seen resting in the drain, as its tail is curled up atop a drain grill.
Prashanta Kumar Mohanty, who posted the video, told The Straits Times he had gone down to see the python after hearing about it from his manager who had walked by the area.
Workers at the scene told Mr Prashanta, a wildlife lover, that they had spotted the snake at around 11am and had contacted the authorities.
“I was a bit worried about the snake and was praying for it,” said the IT professional in his 40s.
He added that officers had drilled the concrete around the pipe where the python was stuck in order to free it.
Said Mohanty: “It was obvious that (the python) was stressed by the drilling noises, but there was no other way to rescue it without cutting the pipe.”
The python, which appeared weak, was rescued after about five hours and placed into a snake bag, he added.
“(The officers) said they will hand it over to the (relevant department to) remove the pipe that is stuck to the snake’s body, and will release it to the wild later,” he said.
In his post, he called the NParks staff “heroes” for saving the serpent and also praised the contractors who helped to free it.
“A huge shout-out to everyone participating in this process. I sincerely value their effort and dedication,” he added.
Robbin Tan – a scientific officer at the Herpetological Society of Singapore – told ST that the snake, a reticulated python native to Singapore, was likely hunting for rodents when it got stuck.
“As with other wild animals, pythons prefer to remain undetected by humans as they go about their lives.
“Thus, when hunting or travelling through urban areas, the network of drains which Singapore has provides a good medium for them to do so, especially given the abundance of rodents that do the same,” he said.
He added that pythons have a critical task of helping to control Singapore’s rodent population. - The Straits Times/ANN
