
Shiny, green 14-ft python bedazzles Batangas folk
TANAUAN CITY–Bobot, a laborer, was unloading sand last Jan. 17 from a truck when he noticed something crawling at a grassy portion of Camella subdivision here.
He thought it was a rat moving around the piles of wood and grass so he continued his routine.
Minutes later, the laborer heard the fighting cocks simultaneously making loud noises as if they’re sensing danger.
Then Bobot sensed what he saw was not just a rat but something bigger and, from his deeper sense–more dangerous.
He was right. It wasn’t a rat, it wasn’t a dog but a python, a really big, scary 14-foot python with skin resembling a branded tote bag bag–greenish, shiny that commands a 5,000-euro price tag.
He didn’t waste time. He shouted to alert the subdivision dwellers that they have a guest, but an unwelcome one.
His coworkers came to do what they can–looking for a cloth, plastic or even a bucket that will be used to cover the python’s head so it can be captured alive.
But things got out of hand as the python was already nearly a meter away from one of the fighting cocks.
“Hindi po namin mataga dahil walang may itak na malaki,” said Nelson, his coworker. That time, there were already six people near the slowly crawling–and looking dazed and rattled–python.
According to eyewitnesses, the oversized snake was a bit confused, undecided if he will continue to attack the roosters or escape.
Before the python can decide what he must do, one dweller struck the python with a pointed iron to the head. Then the snake lay dead.
When the python was already dead then came various reactions–some felt relieved because the “monster” was eliminated.
Others felt sorry because had there anyone who knows how to deal with the situation, it could have been captured alive and turned over to authorities.
“Sayang ang ganda ng balat.” “Kuh kakatakot Naman.” “Parang anaconda lang.” “Hala bubwelta ‘yang mga kasama nyan.”
“Nakow! Sayang piede alagaan yan kasi sawa lang yan wala venom. Swerte daw pati makahuli ng ganyan kasi year of the snake ngayon.”
These were some of the comments posted at the GC of residents of the subdivision.
According to readings, what Camella folks encountered was a reticulated python that is endemic to southeast Asia.
It is regarded as the longest and third heaviest snake after the anaconda and the Burmese python.
Reticulated pythons are one of the most poached animals like tiger, gecko and alligator because of their skin, medicinal value and sometimes for being a pet.
It rarely attacks humans and only eats when hungry. It is ideal as a pet because it doesn’t inflict harm to co-animals and humans.
Many media reports indicate reticulated pythons are seen in their unnatural habitats because of man’s encroachment to their territories.
A look at the subdivision’s surroundings supports that the python is suited in the area because it used to be grassy, forest with a river below.
When the subdivision was constructed almost two decades ago the python’s habitat became a man’s habitat. Encroachment in short.
In a 2017 interview, the late Environment secretary Gina Lopez said many encounters between man and forest creatures end up with the latter being killed because of their features instead of their behavior.
Lopez’s statement is a testament to what happened to the python. The oversized with a dazzling skin was killed because, as Lopez said, man thought will attack them.
When the laborer was asked what they did to the python, he replied: “Kinain namin.” By ED VELASCO