A hiker who was reportedly bitten and dragged down a stream by a 20-foot-long python on Tuesday managed to escape without serious injury – as did the snake, thankfully!
The woman who got bitten was walking with 40 other hikers from Ma On Shan to Sai Kung on Tuesday morning, Apple Daily reports. At around 10am, the group reached Ma Sai Stream in Sai Kung, where the woman began walking on the stream bank.
According to a retired policeman surnamed Chung, who was on the hike, a python suddenly darted out of the water and bit the hiker on the leg, dragging her down into the stream.
As a number of hikers rushed towards to help, the python reportedly let go of the woman’s leg and swam away. The former police officer said, “I suspect it was forced to attack out of hunger, or perhaps to defend its home.”
Despite his sympathy towards the serpent, Chung and some of the other hikers moved the snake away to a wooded area nearby to prevent similar incidents from happening to the rest of the party, who was further behind.
The injured hiker was taken to hospital with a few puncture wounds but is reported to be in good condition.
The term “python” refers to a number of different species within the Pythonidae family, none of which are venomous. Most pythons are “ambush predators”, which mean they lie motionless in wait and strike quickly at passing prey. They are not generally known to attack humans unless they are provoked.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated with more information about pythons.
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