A couple in Maylasia got more than they bargained for last week when their fishing experience didn’t quite turn out like they thought it would. Find out what happened below!
Python Sighting in Baling
On Thursday, September 28th, 2023, a man and his wife were out fishing near the Kampung Sungai Tembak, Baling, Malaysia. And as fishing goes, they were looking to catch fish. Only their net didn’t bring in fish. It brought in a whopping 80-kilogram (170+ pound) python!
“Initial information revealed the man was fishing with his wife before finding the snake stuck on the fishing net near the river…In fear, the man called the Baling APM emergency hotline to ask for aid in capturing the reptile,” he said in a statement on Saturday.”
After further investigation upon getting the python safely removed, it was estimated that the heavy rains likely brought this python to the river they were fishing in around the Baling district.
We can see from the video posted below that this python was a monster. It took several people just to remove this snake from the net safely. It was reportedly seven meters long (22 feet).
What Kind of Pythons Are in Malaysia?
There are 40 species of pythons recognized.
©Natnaphit/Shutterstock.com
One of the most common types of pythons in Malaysia is the well-known reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus). The reticulated python of the genus Malayopython resides in Asia. There is no exact estimation of how large their population is. It is considered to be unknown but considered to be of the least concern where their conservation status is concerned.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) states the following. “Each year, approximately 300,000 reticulated pythons (Python reticulatus) are harvested from the wild in Indonesia and Malaysia to supply skins for the international trade in exotic leathers. Concerns have been raised about the sustainability of such a high level of off-take, along with issues related to illegal trade and humane treatment of snakes.”
Reticulated Python Facts
The reticulated python can live up to 25 years in the wild.
©Mark_Kostich/Shutterstock.com
The reticulated python is not a small fellow. These pythons can reach anywhere from 13-20 feet long by full adult maturity. While they are not venomous, they are highly aggressive. Hence the couple in the video posted below did not attempt to remove this python on their own. They left it to the professionals to take care of.
These pythons are carnivorous, which means they will feed on prey. They prefer to eat mammals and various kinds of birds. Due to their size, there are few animals they cannot overpower to eat.
