MERSING: A chalet worker's routine patrol yielded a shocking discovery of a 6m python, weighing around 150kg, in Air Papan here.
According to Chalet Air Papan worker Razif Haikal Suhaimi, 19, he was making his rounds patrolling the chalet when one of the customers alerted him that “something” was stuck in the parking gate.
“It was around 11.30pm on Sunday (April 23) and there was no light except from the customer's car.
"When we approached the gate, we were both quite shocked to see a huge python on it.
“We believe that the snake was looking for something to eat as there are stray cats around the chalet,” he said when contacted on Tuesday (April 25).
Asked if python sightings were common in the area, Razif said this was the first time he had seen such a large specimen at the chalet.
“The chalet is between the road and Pantai Air Papan. There's no forest behind it, only a small hill.
“My uncle used to catch snakes, so he shone a light on the snake's eyes before covering it with a blanket to ensure that it would not escape,” he said, adding that the Civil Defence Force was then alerted.
Mersing Civil Defence officer Nurnajibah Abdullah said they received the call at 12.15am on Monday (April 24).
“The python was coiled around a rope, so we spent about 20 minutes getting it out.
“It was then handed over to Perhilitan (the Wildlife and National Parks Department) for further action,” she said, adding that five department personnel were involved in the operation.
