Well over 200 Southern Africa Pythons have now been removed in Ladysmith, with Fanie Cilliers recently capturing python number 226.

Fanie recently sped out to the Qinisa area (Pieters) on a snake call-out. He didn’t know what he would be going up against, but he is always prepared for anything, big or small.

Mtshali family finds ‘lurker in the dark’

Members of the Mtshali family were planning to clean out one of the sheds in their homestead that hadn’t been used for many years. When they went into the shed, they noticed something ‘lurking in the dark’. On closer inspection, they saw it was a massive snake.

They immediately called Fanie to come out and help.

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At this stage, Fanie didn’t know what snake he was going after, but he knows the area well and the main ‘suspect’ in his mind was a python.

Fanie battled his way into the shed, first having to ward off wasps that had made their nests in a wooden plank.

After latching onto the python with his hands, the snake put up a good fight and managed to coil itself around one of his legs. Fortunately, Fanie and his wife Melissa are professionals and got the snake under control.

Over four metres long

A few photos were taken with the massive python, which measured a whopping 4.35 metres and weighed 19.95kg on the scale.

Game reserve is its new home

The snake was safely put into a bag so that it wouldn’t harm anyone. The ‘majestic’ creature will be released in a local game reserve.

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