WATCH: Proud python putters on

A Southern African rock python that caused itself severe injuries while hunting five months ago, was recently spotted in good health in its natural surroundings of Tembe Elephant Park – and chancing fate once more.

A recent livestream from the game reserve’s waterhole feed shows the 4m snake sunning itself in the company of several elephants drinking.

However, the elephants carefully avoided stepping on the 23kg serpent.

At this very waterhole in February, the snake attempted to consume an impala, but was impaled by the antelope’s horns in the process.

After a five-hour struggle, the snake regurgitated its large prey, splitting its lower jaw and being wounded on the tail from the impala’s fight for survival.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife intervened, calling on snake expert Donald Schultz from Snake Pharm in Hluhluwe.

With funding from WeWild Africa, the protected species received the care it needed and was released back to its home in early March.

ALSO WATCH: python’s safe return to Tembe Elephant Park:

 

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