BELLAIR local and snake rescuer Grant Cavanagh said he is worried at the increasing variety of ball pythons being disposed or launched into the wild.
Ball pythons, which are belonging to Sub-Saharan and West Africa, are amongst the most popular reptile family pets on the planet.
In the last 6 months, the Durban South Snake Rescue member said he has actually received a number of call-outs for the unique types that have actually either been disposed or given up.
“In the last 6 months, we’ve been called out to Virginia Bush Nature Reserve two times for 2 ball pythons that were unfortunately killed – we believe while crossing the roadway. It was our 3rd call-out to the reserve in recent years. We’ve likewise had individuals threaten to launch them – among those cases happened in Northdene. Our message to those wishing to launch or eliminate these gorgeous snakes is to call us. We’ll rehome or look after them ourselves. We’ve got a big network of reptile enthusiasts who want to help.
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“The big takeaway is we don’t want them being released into the wild or being dumped. It is illegal to release exotic species into the wild. Captive ball pythons are often bred for specific patterns that do not occur in the wild, called morphs or a genetic mutation. They are non-venomous constrictors and due to them not being aggressive, they are popular among reptile owners. What we’ve seen though is some owners can’t afford to care for them, in terms of buying food for them, keeping their tanks clean or just general care as they get older and bigger. People see it as too expensive and just don’t want them anymore,” he said.
Last year, a ball python, believed to have actually been disposed or a stowaway on a vessel, was discovered dead along the Durban Harbour.
“We are appealing to pet owners that the best thing to do is reach out and contact someone. We don’t want exotic species being released into the wild. We are all about conservation. We’ve already seen how Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in Florida and disrupted an entire ecosystem,” he said.
For any snake-related saves, contact Grant on 084 267 9402 or Shanté on 062 024 3945. You can likewise follow them on their Facebook page under the very same name.
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