Large python caught in bushes near Paya Lebar Square, sent to Mandai Wildlife Group

Python caught near Paya Lebar Square will be released into forested area if suitable: NParks

A large python was found too close to humans for comfort in the bushes near Paya Lebar Square, a mall next to Paya Lebar MRT station.

A video of National Parks Board (NParks) officers catching the snake was posted on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group on Saturday (9 Nov).

NParks officers seen catching python outside Paya Lebar Square

In the 1 minute 44 second-long video, the NParks officers were seen rummaging in the bushes with snake tongs.

In the background, vehicles were turning at a busy traffic junction.

After about 40 seconds, the officers finally emerged with their quarry — a long and thick python — to the gasps of onlookers.

Python found in Paya Lebar put inside cage

As they laid the reptile out on the ground, its full length became clear — longer than the height of a human.

Netizens also speculated that the python had just eaten something, going by the bulge in its belly.

Eventually, the officers picked the python up to put it in a waiting cage.

As they did this, SingPost Centre and Paya Lebar MRT could be seen in the background, indicating just how near the python was to the unsuspecting public.

Python taken to Mandai Wildlife Group

NParks told The Straits Times that it was alerted on 9 Nov to a sighting of a snake at 60 Paya Lebar Road — the address of Paya Lebar Square.

The reptile, a reticulated python, was safely captured and taken to Mandai Wildlife Group for assessment. It is now being monitored.

If assessed to be suitable, it will be released into a forested area that is far from human dwellings.

NParks advised members of the public not to approach or handle a snake in public, but to stay calm and back away slowly from it to give it space to retreat.

Reticulated pythons can eat mammals as large as deer

According to NParks, the reticulated python or malayopython reticulatus is native to Singapore and can be found across Southeast Asia.

It’s identified by its tan or yellowish-tan scales with geometric black lines along the top and sides of its body that widen and encircle white spots.

They can grow to be very large, up to almost 10m, and are good climbers limited to terrestrial areas.

They eat mammals that can be as small as mice but as large as deer and pigs.

Also read: Large reticulated python spotted among fallen leaves in Singapore, Internet warns of close proximity

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Featured image adapted from Singapore Wildlife Sightings on Facebook.