Two 7-Meter Pythons Released Back into the Wild in Riau

TheIndonesia.id - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) in Riau province has released two seven-meter-long pythons back into the wild after they were found by locals on their farms and evacuated to the conservation agency.

Daily executive of BBKSDA Riau Hartono said one of the reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) was found on a farm in Simpang Kubu, Kampar regency.

“After it was discovered, locals then collectively evacuated and reported it to BBKSDA Riau,” Hartono said on Thursday, May 12, as reported by Antara.

He also revealed that based on the snake’s massive size and slow movement, BBKSDA Riau predicted it had just eaten pig from a local farm.

The python is estimated to be 20 years old, and since it appeared to be healthy and still had its wild nature, BBKSDA immediately released it back into the conservation area.

On the same day, the conservation body also released another reticulated python that had been captured by locals in Bunut subdistrict, Pelalawan regency. The seven- to eight-meter-long snake was also found on a farm area, far from the locals’ residence.

“Because it was quite far from residential area, it actually wasn’t quite dangerous, but locals evacuated the snake because it was on the farm,” Hartono concluded.