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PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER (Manila, Philippines) 27 December 05 A holiday reminder: Beware of snakes (Blanche S. Rivera, Tina G. Santos)
Careful with those celebrating the season with you.
Snakes -- pythons in particular -- are expected to be out of their hiding places as they go after the rats that will go after your leftover holiday food.
The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday said that snakes tended to come out of their natural habitats during Christmas -- and much of the cold months -- to follow their prey.
"The rats are out these days because of all the food. The presence of prey drives the snakes out to the city ... You will see more [snakes] out there," PAWB assistant director Mundita Lim told the Inquirer by phone yesterday.
Floods caused by heavy rains also disturb the natural habitats of the snakes, which are usually in creeks or dark places, forcing the reptiles out of their holes, Lim said.
The PAWB had 90 pythons brought to the Rescue Center as of latest count, about a third of which were taken to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City the past six months.
In July alone, the PAWB received 11 snakes, 13 in August, and six this month.
Lim said disturbances due to real estate development had increasingly pushed snakes out of their natural habitats, exposing them to people who mistake them for dangerous reptiles.
Many of the pythons brought to the Rescue Center were suffering from head injuries or mouth rots because those who catch them tend to pound their head or pull out their teeth to ensure they would not bite.
"Do not hurt them. They are constrictors, they will not bite," Lim said.
She advised people who spot pythons to call the PAWB or the Manila Zoo which could provide professional snake handlers to catch the snakes without hurting them.
The PAWB will relocate the remaining healthy snakes at the Rescue Center to a reptile sanctuary in Oriental Mindoro province after rehabilitation.
Yesterday, a 10-foot reticulated python caused a commotion in Manila's Binondo District.
Raul Paragan, a security guard at a parking lot on Lavezares and Madrid Streets, said he found the python under a car at around 6 a.m., sending him as well as residents in the area into a panic.
With the help of barangay officials, Paragan managed to capture the snake and place it in a sack.
Some media men volunteered to take the snake to the Manila Zoo for safekeeping but it managed to sneak out of the sack, causing a commotion.
They later subdued the snake, but a photographer claimed he was nearly attacked by the reptile.
The unharmed python was later turned over to zoo representatives.
According to Dr. Romulo Bernardo, Manila Zoo administrator, the female python had to be quarantined first to check if it was in good health.
Python is a common name for nonpoisonous snakes. Large and muscular, they kill their prey by squeezing until it suffocates.
Although most pythons feed on small mammals, some large species can kill and swallow small pigs and goats. They rarely kill people.
Pythons range from 1 to 10 m (3 to 33 ft) long and weigh up to 140 kg (300 lb), according to a website on the snake, www.manbir-online.com/snakes/python.htm.
The female python lays 15 to 100 eggs, and broods them until they hatch.
They are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific islands.
"The reticulated python of Southeast Asia is among the largest snakes, reaching a length of 10 m (33 ft). Other well-known pythons are the Indian python, a favorite of snake handlers; African rock python; ball or royal python of equatorial Africa, which curls into a ball and can be rolled on the ground," said the website.
A holiday reminder: Beware of snakes

"Do not hurt them. They are constrictors, they will not bite," Lim said."

lol
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1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
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1.2 Macklotts
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1.0 Jungle Carpet
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0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC