Durban - A maintenance man was unhappy after he found a big python under a geyser.
Durban snake catcher Nick Evans and his wife Joelle had rushed to one of his study sites after a python was found under a geyser on Wednesday.
Evans said he was concerned that the snake might be on eggs even though it was late in the season.
“When we arrived, we couldn't see much. Just a tiny bit of the python in a space at the bottom of the tank,” Evans said.
Evans said on one side, there was a decent gap that the snake could get out of but not big enough for him to get under or even reach far under.
He said he stuck his phone under there, on video mode, so he could try to have a look. It seemed there were no eggs.
“Joelle got a stick and started poking and prodding the python from one side, very gently, trying to get it to move, or preferably, to come out,” Evans said.
“Eventually, the snake got tired of being harassed and came out at some speed!”
“I grabbed the tail of the large snake as it swayed from side to side. I passed Joelle the tail so I could go for the head,” Evans continued.
“A beautiful female, 3.2m in length, weighing over 15kg. She could do with a meal or two. She'll contribute towards our exciting research and will be released in an area where there's an abundance of prey.”
Evans said the python was ‘in the blue’, about to shed its skin, hence, its blue eyes and dark appearance.
He said once the snake sheds, it will be bright and beautiful again.
“But in this phase, her vision is badly affected, and so I managed to get to her head quite easily,” Evans said.
He said that he and Joelle smelt horrendously afterwards because pythons gave off the worst smell.
Evans added that pythons were not venomous, but they could deliver a very painful bite with their rows of curved, needle-like teeth.
Daily News