ZEE NEWS (India) 28 June 06 Cambodian family adopts python

Phnom Penh: In a Cambodian province barely forty kilometres outside of the capital Phnom Penh, a giant python has enamoured the lives of one family and the village they live in.

The female python has been living with the family for the past six years and and 6-year-old Sambath Uon has become especially attached to the reptile.

The snake came to the house three months after Sambath was born and has stayed near the boy everyday since then.

Since the snake`s arrival, his mother, Kim Kanara has prayed for it to remain in their home and she believes it has brought luck to her family.

Symbolically, they have named the python Chomreun, which means lucky in Khmer.

When the snake first landed up in their home, it was less than half a meter long. Now, it stretches 6 meters long and weighs a hefty 120 kilograms, said Kim.

"I love the python. I love the python like my sister," said Sambath as he rested his head on the snake. Neighbours and residents from the province come by to watch the unusual pair huddled together on the floor. Some even believe it has healing powers because of its human like qualities.

"Some people come here and ask for holy water from the python and some recovered from their sickness," said Kim Kanara.

The family treats Chomreun as a member of their family and say they now can`t imagine their lives without it - they shelter, feed, bathe and even pray to it sometimes.
Cambodian family adopts python

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• IND Press:Cambodian family adopts python - W von Papineäu, Wed Jun 28 19:45:39 2006