Teddy bear's picnic: Skilled surgeon removes beloved plush toy from inside python
An emergency procedure to save the life of an 'impacted' python had to be performed after the reptile decided that 'teddy looked tasty'.
The rare reptile drama unfolded when Gold Coast snake catcher Tony Harrison noticed the unusual and unmissable ‘bear bulge’ and rushed the not-so-killer python to the nearest veterinary clinic.
An x-ray confirmed the little bear was indeed in there and an emergency C-section was performed on the snake and teddy was removed.
The snake, who has since been named Lucky is now sporting 15 stitches and will be on antibiotics for two weeks before being released.
It’s the first time the vet has operated on a snake in his 16 year career.
"We try and go in there and make as little damage as possible basically, so basically she's a normal snake again," Dr Matt Hollindale told 7 News.
Since the unusual operation the teddy has been through the washing machine several times and is on the way back home to his owner.
In a bid to explain why the snake ate the stuffed toy, snake catcher Harrison told 7 News: "Right now they are really obsessively hunting for food and if a dog had of been playing with this and it smelt right, it'll do.”
"You'll see them eat tea towels or plastic bags. If it smells right, they'll eat it."
The treating vets are confident Lucky will survive and hope next time she'll be more careful when selecting meals.
Snakes are showing up all over Australia this summer causing plenty of footage fodder.
‘Straya alert: Pet snake goes for a ‘creek swim’ with besotted owner on Gold Coast
‘Kermit had a bad Sunday afternoon’: Hilarious commentary as snake devours frog
A redback spider with a baby eastern brown snake caught up in its web in his garage
Snake eating another snake caught on video
Snake found hiding in men's toilet
News break – March 1
