A 13-year-old boy was tragically killed by a python after attempting to catch the snake with his friend at a stream bank in Rawabuntu, Serpong, South Tangerang on Monday evening.
The teen, identified by his initials YM, reportedly stopped by a stream bank to urinate with his friend R. When he saw the large snake cross near him, YM and R went to catch it.
YM was able to hold the python’s head at first, but it attacked YM and wrapped itself around the boy’s neck. R then tried to pull the snake, which was said to have been about 4 meters long, to no avail. He ran to seek help from residents nearby but the neighborhood was visibly empty, and by the time he returned to his friend, it was too late.
“The victim was overpowered and he was strangled by the python to death,” Serpong Police Chief Supriyanto said today.
YM was reportedly a reptile enthusiast and liked to catch animals such as snakes or monitor lizards, locally known as biawak, in his spare time.
Uci Sanusi, who heads South Tangerang’s fire department, said that the snake has not yet been found because it slithered away after strangling YM. He said his agency is planning to work with reptile communities to catch the python.
