ALOR SETAR: The capture of a 150kg, 8m-long python has become the talk of settlers at Felda Bukit Tangga in Bukit Kayu Hitam near here.
It took three Civil Defence Department personnel and 15 villagers to subdue the reticulated python, which had earlier swallowed a 20kg goat.
The python was discovered by settler Othman Taib, 60, inside a drain near his goat pen in a rubber plantation at 3.30pm on Tuesday.
Snakes alive!: Civil Defence personnel inspecting the 8m reticulated python with its meal still in its stomach in Alor Setar Wednesday.Othman said he had lost about 10 goats in the past three months and had suspected that the animals had been stolen. However, he now believes it was the work of the python.
Department personnel arrived at 6pm and it took them about an hour to capture the python with the help of villagers.
However, the python died about six hours later at the department’s base here.
The snake had sustained injuries on the head after it was beaten by villagers with pieces of wood and one of the goat’s horns had also pierced the python’s insides.
The department’s Kota Setar operations officer Mohd Faizol Abd Aziz said they were shocked by the size of the python.
Amirah said the python tried to disgorge the goat in its bid to escape.
“We also faced problems in capturing and lifting it since it was so heavy,” she said.
A week ago, a 7m-long reticulated python weighing about 100kg was captured by 15 villagers in Jitra.
date: January 07, 2010
story and picture by: G.C. Tan
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