This Australian Python's Life Was Saved When He Sneaked Into A House and Ate Something He Shouldn't Have
A Queensland family got a nasty surprise when a carpet python slithered into their home and settled into the master bedroom. The bigger shock came when the snake catcher realized the problem was not just that it was inside, but that it had swallowed something it should not have.
The missing item turned out to be one of the homeowner's slippers, and that put the python in real danger. Steve the Python was taken to a vet clinic, where the team confirmed the strange meal and moved quickly to help him.
What happened next was a very unusual rescue, and it all started with a missing slipper.
The homeowner then noticed that one of his slippers was missing, and perhaps the snake thought it was something delicious and ate it. It turns out the snake was a Carpet Python. Although these pythons can eat and digest large meals, consuming the slipper can cause him a lot of trouble.
The slipper will not be able to pass through his digestive system, and this, in turn, will make him starve and develop other issues.
The snake catcher immediately took Steve the Python to Greencross Vets Jindalee. This is where they met Josh Ilinas, who works as a veterinarian specializing in amphibians and reptiles.
Before doing anything else, Ilinas took an X-ray of the snake's stomach and confirmed that Steve had indeed eaten the slipper.
That is when the rescue turned into a full-on medical case.
This chaotic scene echoes the scientists sharing video of an invasive python swallowing a 77-pound deer whole.
Ilinas wasn't surprised and mentioned that this actually happens more often than we think. "I have recently removed a pillowcase from a black-headed python and a tennis ball from another carpet python," he said.
Apparently, slippers, pillowcases, and tennis balls are not the only things these pythons like to eat. They also tend to go for teddy bears and doorknobs.
After discovering the problem, it was time for Ilinas to save Steve's life. He performed a 90-minute surgery to remove the slipper from the snake's stomach. "The snake is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery," he said. "This will take six to eight weeks for the skin to heal."
Luckily, Steve will be fine, and once he is all healed up and healthy, they will release him back into the wild. We hope he doesn't get something stuck inside him again!
For another frantic rescue, see how a homeowner found a 7-foot snake inside his couch.
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