KUALA LUMPUR – Firefighters from the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue Department have rescued 29 baby reticulated pythons from a drain near a restaurant in Section 20, Shah Alam.
Operations commander Radziah Osman stated that the department received a call at 9.56pm yesterday regarding the discovery of the pythons.
Upon arriving at the location, six firefighters assessed the situation and successfully captured the snakes.
“The snakes were released in a safe area, and the firefighters then returned to their station. No injuries were reported,” Radziah said in a statement.
Radziah also informed a local news portal that the snakes were discovered by a passerby, adding that the department responded to a similar incident involving 26 snakes last year. The captured snakes were also released far from populated areas.
The reticulated python is protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, according to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
The reticulated python, also known as the Malayopython reticulatus, is recognised by its distinctive net-like pattern in green, yellow, and black.
Although the species does not grow as long as some other pythons, it attains a greater girth, with records showing individuals growing up to 8 metres long, and some exceeding 9 metres.
The reticulated python is a constrictor that preys on medium to small mammals such as pigs, goats, deer, waterfowl, and nesting birds. It has a series of heat-sensing pits along its upper lip, which it uses to detect prey.
However, instances where humans are attacked by this species are very rare. – August 8, 2024