A massive reticulated python became the main attraction of a wet market in Bukit Batok last Saturday morning when it emerged on the rooftop of some shops, causing quite a stir in the neighborhood.
A crowd of about 30 to 40 people gathered at the wet market near Block 273 Bukit Batok East Avenue 4 to watch the snake coil about in the eaves of the roof, presumably sad that its food had dropped onto the floor. A video captured from another angle caught a glimpse of a huge dead rat lying on the ground below the snake.
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) were alerted, but by the time they reached the scene, the python had already made itself scarce, disappearing back into the roofing.
Speaking to The Straits Times, ACRES deputy chief executive officer Kalai Vanan maintained a chill viewpoint about the snake’s appearance. Noting that there is nothing to worry about at all, he mentioned that areas like wet markets do tend to attract vermin, which in turn attracts pythons, “which are great at controlling rat populations”.
Reticulated pythons are native to Singapore, and ACRES advises the public not to provoke or handle them, should they be encountered.
