Snakes alive – snake-catchers have a busy week around Sai Kung

^{Burmese python}

Dave Willott, snake-catcher extraordinaire, told BUZZ, that aided by two police officers – one a brave WPC who probably weighed less than the snake – he helped catch the snake that had eaten a kid (a baby goat) in Pak Shek Wo Village, Tseng Lan Shue that we reported on earlier this week.

According to Dave, “As normal the poor snake regurgitated the dead kid during the rough handling of it being captured. This is a common occurrence which I truly regret but in some cases its unavoidable (that’s why it would have been better just to let it be) but guess the farmer didn’t want it around. I was informed by a police officer that he keeps many goats that run semi wild. I guarantee these will attract more big pythons in the future”. 

The snake was transferred from the KTO police station to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden where the staff checked it over. The female python measured 3.43 m and weighed 18 kg.

^{Sai Kung’s Dave Willott photographed by his fellow snake catcher William Sargent with a king cobra. The king cobra is distinguished from the Chinese cobra by its rings and grows much longer, up to 12 feet. Dave told BUZZ king cobras make him nervous because their behaviour is unpredictable. Photo: William Sargent}

On 25 June another python was caught at Floral Villa that measured 4.1 metres and weighed 22.5 kg. The lady who found the python was worried that it had eaten a semi feral cat that she feeds but fortunately the cat appeared later for a feed alive and well.

^{The python at Floral Villa}

“She’s lucky, unfortunately its not always the case” according to Dave, who’s friend caught the snake in this instance.

^{The copperhead rat snake at Greenfield Villa}

Finally, here’s a video of a copperhead rat snake that Dave recently caught at Greenfield Villa. “Wasn’t very grateful for being caught!” says Dave. It was released as it’s not venomous.