19kg python that's 4m-long stuns shoppers near Paya Lebar Square
Vihanya Rakshika
The Straits Times
November 10, 2024
A reticulated python was successfully removed from a bush near Paya Lebar Square over the weekend before a crowd of curious onlookers.
The National Parks Board (NParks) said on Nov 10 it was alerted to a sighting of the snake at 60 Paya Lebar Road on Nov 9.
The reptile was safely captured and taken to Mandai Wildlife Group for assessment, NParks said.
The python is currently being monitored and, if deemed suitable, will be released into a forested area away from human dwellings, NParks added.
In response to ST queries, veterinarian Charlene Yeong from Mandai Wildlife Group's Veterinary Healthcare team said that the python, which weighed about 19kg and measured about 4m, is currently under observation by the team.
Dr Yeong said that the python was found with a "mid-body distension, likely due to a food bolus (a mass of undigested prey)".
"We are monitoring the animal's health status closely and to assess if it will naturally pass the food bolus. In the meantime, we are ensuring the python is kept in a calm, controlled environment, with access to water and minimal stress," she added.
Reticulated pythons are the world's longest snake and regularly grows to more than 6.25m in length, according to the Natural History Museum in Britain. The longest reticulated python ever recorded - at 10m long - was found in Indonesia in 1912.
The species native to Singapore and can be encountered in urban areas. The animal plays an important role in regulating the ecosystem by keeping the population of pests, such as rodents, low.
Videos of the snake's capture at PLQ Mall were circulated widely on social media, including on the Singapore Wildlife Sighting and Complaint SG Facebook groups.
The videos show NParks officers using snake tongs to remove the python from the bush. Two officers are seen holding down the python on a patch of grass.
NParks advises members of the public to remain calm and back away slowly if they encounter a snake in a public area. It is important to give the snake space to retreat and not to approach or handle it.
They can call NParks' helpline on 1800-476-1600.
