LIMPOPO – A potentially deadly encounter between humans and wildlife ended safely this week after a Southern African python was rescued from a residential settlement in the Tarentaalrand area near a small-scale chicken farm.

The incident unfolded after a long day of routine work for a local wildlife sanctuary, Beyond Borders Wildlife Sanctuary, when they received a call reporting that a large python had entered a nearby settlement and taken a chicken from an inadequately secured chicken house.

According to Azelle Grobler of Beyond Borders, encounters like these often end tragically for snakes, despite Southern African pythons being protected by law.

“Fear and misunderstanding frequently lead to the animals being killed before help can arrive.”

In this case, a vigilant resident acted quickly, spotting the snake and immediately contacting rescuers.

When the rescue team arrived, the python was lying exposed in an open field and had already assumed a full defensive posture. “Under threat, pythons can strike with remarkable speed, making such rescues highly dangerous for both people and the animal involved.”

To minimise risk, rescuers worked carefully using a sheet to guide the snake while maintaining a safe distance. The python did strike during the operation, but the team remained calm and patient, allowing the animal time to settle.

Although tongs are rarely used on snakes of this size due to the stress they can cause, the urgency of the situation left little choice. They were applied briefly and only long enough to secure the snake safely.

Under normal circumstances, rescued snakes are moved slowly to prevent stress and the possibility of regurgitation after feeding. However, speed was critical in this case, as remaining in the area would have put the python at serious risk. Fortunately, the snake had only consumed a small chicken, reducing the likelihood of complications.

After careful monitoring, the python was declared healthy and successfully relocated to a private reserve far from human habitation, where it can live safely without posing a threat to people or livestock.

Grobler said the incident serves as a powerful reminder that human-wildlife conflict can often be resolved peacefully.

“Every life matters,” she said. “With quick thinking, patience, and the right response, even the most dangerous situations can end with a life saved.”

She urges farmers and community members to take the necessary precautions when keeping livestock, especially chickens. Enclosures should be properly secured using small chicken mesh wire, and all unnecessary holes or gaps must be closed off to prevent snakes from gaining access.

“Unfortunately, when enclosures are left vulnerable, it creates an easy food source. Not just snakes but any predator,” she explained. “They are simply acting on instinct; they are not targeting livestock intentionally. If proper precautions aren’t taken, the animals end up being blamed or killed for something that could have been prevented.”