Frozen 5m python put down

2004-08-25 07:54

Marthinus van Vuuren

Johannesburg - A Kempton Park building contractor is facing charges of animal abuse after a 5m live python found in his freezer had to be put down.

Denise Stuart of the Kempton Park SPCA, the welfare group was tipped off about the problem about two weeks ago.

"She (the snake) had been in the freezer for between eight and ten hours. She was coiled up and placed in a mielie bag tied with wire," said Stuart.

"She was ice cold and frozen solid in places."

The building contractor apparently said he spotted the snake in Warmbaths and when he got home he found it on the back of his bakkie.

A taxidermist apparently suggested he freeze it so that it could be stuffed.

Stuart said: "People don't know where to draw the line."

Biggest snake they have handled

According to her, at least three people would have had to handle the snake at one time, because she was "extremely heavy".

Rick Alan, spokesperson for the national SPCA, said it was the largest snake they had handled.

They called in the Johannesburg Zoo to help, but the snake was put down on Monday after experts realised she would not recover.

Alan sid the SPCA in conjunction with the Gauteng conservation authority have laid charges against the building contractor.

- Beeld