The video shared on social media captures the moment a woman is opening the lid of a cage to prepare to feed a python. As the snake pokes its head out, the woman gently reaches in to support it, but the python unexpectedly bites her hand and wraps its body tightly around her arm.
The woman struggles to free herself from the python, but it continues to tighten its grip. A young man standing nearby noticed the situation and tried to intervene to help, but the python refused to let go, and all rescue efforts were in vain.
At the end of the clip, it is clear that a significant amount of blood is flowing from the woman’s hand, and the video concludes with her still attempting to detach the snake.
(Video: Uno Sandvick).
The video quickly went viral after being posted online. The python in the clip has been identified as a reticulated python.
Reticulated pythons are currently the longest snake species in the world, averaging over 6 meters in length, with some individuals reaching lengths of up to 9 or 10 meters. Like other python species, reticulated pythons are non-venomous and kill their prey by coiling around it and constricting until it suffocates. Although they are not venomous, bites from reticulated pythons can cause significant bleeding and may lead to serious infections because the mouths of these snakes contain many harmful bacteria.
Recently, reticulated pythons have become quite popular as pets. Despite their strength and ability to kill humans, they are not considered dangerous to people. However, in reality, if a reticulated python feels threatened, scared, or mistakes a person’s limbs for food, it may bite and constrict. There have even been recorded cases of reticulated pythons consuming humans.
Reticulated pythons are large and powerful enough to kill humans.
For instance, there was the case of Ee Heng Chuan in 1995. Ee Heng Chuan was a 29-year-old rubber tapper living in southern Johor (Malaysia) who was attacked and consumed by a 7-meter-long reticulated python. At that time, police had to fire four shots to subdue the creature.
In 2017, Akbar Salubiro, a 25-year-old farmer in Indonesia, mysteriously went missing. Later, his body was found inside the stomach of a giant reticulated python.
According to zoologists, in the event of an attack by large pythons, if the victim feels they cannot overpower the snake, they should maintain a seated position on the ground, using their arms to protect their neck to prevent the python from constricting their airway, which could lead to unconsciousness.
It is crucial not to struggle to escape the python’s grip, as this will only cause it to tighten further. There are cases where the python perceives a person as merely enduring and not a threat, leading it to release its hold and move away. Additionally, the victim or a companion can use a stick or knife to strike the python’s head forcefully, potentially stunning or even killing the snake in this manner.
Moreover, pythons are also repelled by strong-smelling liquids. If you have a bottle of alcohol, mouthwash, or cleaning solvent, quickly retrieve it and pour it over yourself and the snake’s head. This action may cause the python to cease its attack.
The most important thing is not to allow the python to constrict too tightly before taking action. It is essential to swiftly target the weak points on their body, such as the head and eyes…
For cold-blooded animals like pythons and snakes, they typically do not form emotional bonds or connections with their caretakers. Thus, pythons and snakes can unexpectedly attack their owners if they feel threatened or mistake them for prey. Therefore, when keeping pythons and snakes, owners need to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and understand the nature of their pets to avoid unfortunate accidents that could occur at any time.
