3m-long python snared in industrial park

Lim Yi Han Straits Times 29 Oct 13;

A PYTHON measuring 3m in length was caught yesterday morning at an industrial park in Ang Mo Kio after it was spotted by workers in the area.

Driver Ronald Ong, 29, told The Straits Times that he learnt about the snake from another worker there, who spotted it at Block 5048 in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 at around 8.15am.

The men alerted the police and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), an animal rights group.

About an hour later, two officers from Acres arrived and caught the snake, which was hiding under a container.

Mr Ong said: "I don't think this is the first time a snake has been spotted here. But we're not scared or worried. We'll just take care not to provoke them."

He noted that signs had been put up to warn people of snake sightings in the area.

The 10kg python had eaten a cat, said Ms Anbarasi Boopal, the group director of wildlife at Acres, who added that it would be released into the wild.

She noted that Acres receives about three to five calls a day about snakes, and they usually do not pose a public danger.

"Not all the snakes are rescued, because they are found in their natural habitats. People might be alarmed, not knowing that they can be harmless," she said.

"For example, pythons can be found in canals but it's all right to let them be."

Members of the public can call Acres' 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Hotline at 9783-7782.