A 64-year-old woman named Arom was washing cutlery in her kitchen at home in Samut Prakan’s Phra Samut Chedi district, Thailand, on the night of September 17 when she felt a sharp pain in her right thigh. She looked down to see a 4-metre python coiled around her leg. Arom struggled for over two hours as the python constricted her, until nearby residents heard her cries and called the police.
Background
Arom has been living alone since her husband passed away in November 2023. The incident occurred about an hour away from Bangkok. When the police and rescuers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation arrived, they found Arom exhausted and pale, with the snake coiled around her torso. The python, weighing approximately 20kg, was eventually hit on the head with a crowbar, causing it to release its grip and slither away before it could be captured.
Rescue operation
The rescue operation took more than 30 minutes. Police officers from Phra Samut Chedi Police Station and rescuers worked together to free Arom. Despite her efforts to grab the python by its head, the snake’s grip only tightened. The officers described Arom as looking “exhausted and pale” when they arrived.
Pythons typically kill through constriction
Mary-Ruth Low, a conservation and research officer for Wildlife Reserves Singapore (now part of Mandai Wildlife Group), explained to the BBC that pythons are “almost exclusively” mammal feeders. They typically eat rats and other small animals but can also feast on reptiles, including crocodiles. Pythons kill through constriction and swallow their food whole. Once they reach a certain size, they tend to hunt larger prey, including animals as large as pigs or cows. While cases of pythons swallowing humans are rare, there have been reports in recent years. For instance, a 36-year-old woman was found dead inside the belly of a snake in South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, on July 2. Another 45-year-old woman suffered a similar fate just a month prior in the same province.
Recent incidents
This incident is part of a worrying trend of python attacks in the region. The recent cases in Indonesia highlight the potential dangers posed by these large reptiles. While rare, such incidents underscore the importance of awareness and prompt action in dealing with python encounters. Authorities continue to advise residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and report any sightings of large snakes immediately.
