The following story about a Southern African python was submitted by Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa.
This adult, female Southern African python was caught attempting to catch a hornbill in one of the aviaries at the Loskop Ground-Hornbill Facility. In her attempts, she managed to injure herself rather badly on the fencing. She was brought to our hospital for veterinary attention.
She had sustained lacerations to the first third of her body. Under general anesthetic, the wounds were thoroughly cleaned and sutured.
Pythons are picky eaters and Harper (as she is affectionately named) is a rather feisty lady. We are having to tube-feed her with EmerAid IC Carnivore while her wounds heal.
The sutures are of the absorbable kind, but due to the nature of her wounds we are waiting for her to shed at least once before she can go back to the Loskop Reserve. She will be released in the same reserve, just not near the endangered ground hornbills.
Thank you Grant Fairley for always helping with our reptile patients.
We treat indigenous wildlife, free of charge, relying on the community for donations and support.