Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I know this isn’t a venomous species, but need some help about future handling please.

Last night I nearly ran over a very large wild one (about 15 foot) at the bottom of my road.
I live just outside Pattaya in Thailand and this is the first wild one I’ve seen for the 18 months of living here.

Stopped and thought about trying to help it on it’s way to the other side, but when I actually saw the size of it’s head, I thought better of it. Heard these snakes have got a bite like a mad dog and can do a fair bit of damage. It just looked at me and didn’t move. In the end after directing a few cars around it, I left the scene.

Does anyone know if they are safe to approach, or did I do the right thing by leaving the python to it’s own devices?

Mike.

You probably showed good judegement in how you handled the situation (particularly in playing traffic cop and making sure that no one ran over the snake). Although many captive retics can become wonderfully docile animals, wild retics are typically a much different "beast". Being a large constrictor, they do have a fairly long "strike range" so unless you have experience in working with large constrictors, you are better off just assisting teh animal off the road the way you did. I wouldn't consider their strikes to be lightning fast but you do need to be on guard. I have worked with a handful of large, imported retics and they were quite feisty and not the easiest to manipulate into a bag.

That is really neat that you live in an area where there is the potential to see a giant snake....next time, take a pic and post it on this forum (or probably the python/retic forum).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Hi Rob and Hammer,

Thanks for your responses,

Glad I made the right decision. Wanted to help the Retic further, but to be honest I was a bit, ..err scared, Lol. Handled and kept smaller snakes and lizards most of my life in the UK before relocating here, but never anything this big and wild.
Normally have my digi camera with me at all times, but just nipped down to my local shop when seeing the Retic. Hope there will be a next time.

Yes, a wonderful place to live, even though we get occasional Pit viper’s and giant centipede‘s in the garden. Learnt how the release the vipers over the wall now with a large bamboo pole, but have to be careful walking around the garden at night.
We have a family of Tockay Gecko’s (3 large Adults & 10 young, just hatched) in our loft. Very vocal, and was surprised to see these creatures living in a family unit.

Thanks again for your replies,

Mike.

Hey Mike
You're in my old stomping grounds. I use to live there myself. Still do translating here in the courts. Anyway, my friend lives in Chon Buri and he woke up one day to a very large retic in his house. Damn I miss Thailand!