Yikes, another Indiana Jones moment! For the second time in one week I've had a close encounter with a snake. Last week I nearly stood on a one meter long Beauty Snake at the Lung Fu Shan Position Finding Cells. This week I was checking out the military structures around Stanley Gap when I was joined by a huge Burmese Python.
I was approaching what looks from a distance like a standard issue WW2 British Army toilet block on the downhill side of the junction of Stanley Gap Road and Chung Hom Kok Road. When I first noticed the snake it was in the low rough close to the junction. Thankfully it totally ignored me and slithered slowly off towards the toilet. I'm not sure if it entered or continued on towards Stanley.
I know Burmese Pythons are not venomous...but neither are rottweilers. Needless to say, after two such incidents in a week I proceeded with extreme caution for the rest of the walk.
Comments
Burmese Python
The one you met appears to be comparitively small - they can grow up to 19 feet long with a girth to match !
But in case you're tempted (or try) to put the next one you meet in the pot remember that the Burmese python is a 'protected species' ..... ;)
Reticulated python in Hong Kong?
I`ve a friend who believes,based on one pre-War specimen in the old City Hall Museum, that the reticulated python was also once a Hong Kong resident. Any comments?
Also, how long is the longest ever Burmese Python ever seen in Hong Kong?