Woman finds massive 'black market' albino python on her doorstep
A snake catcher has shared incredible images of a snake he managed to snag on the Gold Coast, describing the large python as a “stunning, gentle giant”.
The Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher shared over 50 images of the snake to their Facebook, identifying it as an albino Burmese python.
Tony Harrison, the snake catcher, said the woman who lived in the home got the shock of her life when she opened the door to find the snake sitting there.
Mr Harrison told Yahoo News Australia Burmese pythons are an invasive species, and he is unaware if the snake was bought on the black market or if it was bred in Australia illegally.
“There’s a black market in Australia for all types of things, and snakes are one of them,” he said, adding the snakes originate from Indonesia.
The giant snake weighed about 60 kilograms, according to Mr Harrison, who struggled to pick the snake up in the video he shared of the removal on Facebook.
Mr Harrison said this was the biggest snake had come across in his years as a catcher.
Burmese pythons are one of the largest species of snakes in the world and although this particular one was placid, they are deadly.
“That snake could easy kill an adult if it wanted to,” Mr Harrison told Yahoo News Australia.
“But luckily it was a gentle giant.”
Mr Harrison said he could tell it has had a “rough life”.
“It’s got its tail removed, it has burns, I don’t know what else has gone on, but it has scars all over from whatever happened in its life.”
Mr Harrison acknowledges Burmese Pythons are a “cool” breed of snake, by they ar potentially a “massive biosecurity risk” to Australia.
“I love Burmese Pythons,” Mr Harrison. said.
“But here is Australia we have many beautiful animals and by introducing these invasive species we really are risking it.”
Instead, Mr Harrison recommended buying an albino Olive Python, which is native to Australia and just as impressive to look at.
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