Four pythons released back into the wild

BURAUEN, Leyte, Feb. 25 (PNA) –- Four captured pythons found their new home at the Mahagnao Volcano and National Park after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources released them back into the wild on Wednesday.

These snakes of different sizes were recently found in different areas in Tacloban City. Residents voluntarily brought these pythons to the DENR rescue center.

“We have to release them within a protected area like in Mahagnao because the biodiversity is still intact. They have lots of food to eat here so they won’t live near human beings,” said Ingelina Lantajo, head of the DENR Eastern Visayas wildlife management unit.

Of the four reptiles, three are known as reticulated pythons with a length of two meters, weighing four to six kilograms. The smallest is a one-meter long Burmese python, weighing one kilogram.

Lantajo noted that more snakes have been stuck in residential areas to hunt for food due to scarcity of prey in their natural habitat such as rodents, frogs, lizards, and chickens.

“Pythons are considered as endangered species. We have to protect them because they are part of the food chain. Their presence is significant to control the population of rodents and other domesticated animals,” she explained.

Pythons are one of the largest snakes commonly found in Asia and Africa. Though python is a non-venomous type, it still can squeeze a human being or an animal to death. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO