Python run over near dam
A three metre long African Rock Python was found on Mandela Street, it had been run over.
Paramedics from Langamed Emergency Management Services were called out to assist. Phillip du Plessis, stabilised the snake before it was taken to Witbank Veterinary Clinic for further treatment.
“We have an arrangement with Langamed where if they come across any injured animals they bring them to my practise, Phillip called me saying the snake had been injured, I immediately went to my practise,” said Dr Nolan Landman.
The female python underwent x-rays where it was discovered that its spine had been severed.
“It was about a third down the body where its spine was severed, it also had a number of broken ribs and suffered from bleeding in the lungs as well as segmental contractions,” said Dr Landman.
After speaking to a specialist in Pretoria and finding that the damage to the spine could not be repaired, Dr Landman decided that it would be in the best interest to euthanize the python.
Mr Henry Kemp, a Herpetologist, estimated that the snake is between the ages of four and six years old.
“Pythons brumate, they don’t hibernate, but at the same time don’t feed in the winter, this one might have been out looking for food when it was run over,” said Kemp.
From 1998 to 2015 at least nine pythons have been relocated or caught on plots and placed within the reserve.
The relocation was successful due to the fact that pythons were found originally within the reserve, however they are more commonly found near Loskop and Middelburg – they make use of Olifants River as a corridor, as do a number of animals making their way into the reserve.
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