Woman finds python in grass at reservoir

The snake was "curled up in a ball" when it was found at King's Mill Reservoir

A snake thought to be an escaped pet has been found by a member of the public at a reservoir in Nottinghamshire.

The royal python was first spotted at King's Mill Reservoir, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, at about 19:00 BST on Saturday.

Gemma Savage, who lives in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, said she searched for the snake after seeing a post about it on social media and found it on Sunday afternoon.

It was later taken to the Mansfield Aquatic, Reptile & Pet Centre, where it is now being cared for.

The snake is being cared for by the Mansfield Aquatic, Reptile & Pet Centre

Ms Savage said: "I saw the post on Saturday and all I could think about was that the snake would not survive if it stayed outside, so I went to find it."

She added: "I was comparing the photo from social media while we walked around the reservoir to try and find the location.

"I looked in the grass and saw that it was curled up in a ball. We touched it with our foot to make sure it was still alive and to make sure it wasn’t nasty."

She said she then picked it up and it was later taken to the pet centre in Nursery Street, Mansfield.

'Quite shy snakes'

Evie Button, senior scientific officer in the RSPCA's wildlife department, said royal pythons were usually found in the wild in West Africa.

She said: "They are quite a common snake in the pet trade now.

"They grow up to around 5ft long, and can live up to 20 years in captivity so they are quite a commitment for anyone keeping them as a pet, given they can grow that large.

"They are quite shy snakes - what they often do if they are threatened or worried is curl up into a ball.

"They are not venomous snakes, the way they kill their prey is by constriction, essentially squeezing them."

Ms Button added: "As they are not venomous, usually handling them is not too much of a danger but it is not something we recommend the public do, unless they are experience with snakes.

"Any snake, particularly when stressed, can bite."

She advised anyone who comes across this kind of snake, to "not panic" and try to pinpoint its location before contacting a vet or local reptile shop.

A spokesman for the Mansfield Aquatic, Reptile & Pet Centre said: "The python is alert, active and just needs time to settle in."

He added: "It is doing fine. We will put a post out to try and find the owner. If not, once he is healthy we will re-home him.

"He is on the slender side but not an unhealthy weight.

"It is most likely an escaped pet."

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