The Reticulated Python is the world’s longest snake, sometimes reaching over seven meters in length (though usually half that size). They are a fascinating, beautiful animal, a wonderful sight for any wildlife enthusiast. But what do you do when a huge snake wants to steal your chickens?

I first became engaged with Sakahang Lilok due to an email I received from an old friend who helped to found the farm. It went like this:

On the Lilok Farm we have a good number of snakes in the forest. Well – mostly in the forest. Occasionally they venture out, mainly to find food. Which is fine in principle. But they like chickens. And the people don’t like them feasting on hens. Generally the people do not appreciate the snakes much and have a tendency to want to kill them, wherever possible. Also because they add protein to the food…

On the Lilok Farm the appreciation of snakes is slightly higher. We also got two guys who handle snakes well. But the chicken topic is also a matter of concern…

Some of us really do not want to see any snakes killed. But sometimes their presence can feel a bit overwhelming. The neighbours are not so impressed with our appreciation of snakes. They are scared. A Rocha recommended to inform the neighbours and anyone interested better about snakes. Introduce them to the mystery of them and their beauty. Perhaps you would be the person to do this.

The email was accompanied by the following picture of a Reticulated Python that had been caught as it attempted to sneak in and take some chickens:

Humans have struggled to coexist with pythons for a long time. They have almost everything going against them – they are frightening, they eat our domestic animals, they make a decent dinner, they have beautiful skins, and they are snakes. In several places where I have done work – Thailand, Bangladesh, the Philippines – the conflict between pythons and people has been an issue.

I agreed to do a presentation at Sakahang Lilok at a time when I was going to be in the Manila area already for a conference. It ended up being a blast, with 15 participants from two farms and several partner organizations.

We got to work on identifying snakes, how to avoid snakebite, and what to do if someone is bit. They were able to touch a young monitor that I had caught in a rainwater drain the night before. We covered the role of snakes, with an emphasis on how God has each animal fulfilling a particular place in the ecosystem and some ways that snakes help the farmer. We discussed how nature gets out of balance, such as the destruction of forests or the killing of predators.

We left the most difficult issue for last. I asked whether the pythons preferred the forests or the farms, and what would lead the pythons to move into the farms. They could see how disruptions in nature can lead to more conflict between snakes and people. In terms of eating snakes, we built principles of how to deal with snakes in a manner that is sustainable to the ecosystem while also affirming of the people. And how to save the chickens? With a large species like pythons it is possible to snake-proof a chicken coop, but not easy. But if you have having meaningful loss from the pythons yet want to respect their place in the environment, there aren’t a lot of other options.

A few more Reticulated Pythons found in the Philippines

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A few weeks later I got this wonderful feedback from the farm director.

Hey, very very much overdue is this little HUGE Thank you! for the workshop on snakes you did with our crew in February. You are in best (and most memorable!) memory to them. “Jon approaches the forest differently”, they told me. “He is not scared of anything and he finds amazing stuff!” 

Well, this does not surprise me and I am glad you had some fun while here. The attitude towards wildlife has clearly changed for our guys. They now understand more about ecosystems and the role that any animal always has, whether we know about it or not. This is a great gift Jon! Thanks a lot.

One presentation doesn’t make everything perfect. The farm still struggles to know how to deal with pythons in a manner sustainable for both the farm and the pythons. But the struggle will continue with that much more understanding of the role of snakes in our world and a desire to do well by them.

Where do they live?

The Reticulated Python can be found in forest, scrubland, grassland, mangrove swamps, and agriculture, often near the edge of water bodies. They are comfortable in trees and are strong swimmers.

What do they eat?

They eat rats, birds, cats, dogs, civets, pigs, and deer.

Are they dangerous?

Most Reticulated Pythons are too small to be dangerous to humans, though they have a nasty bite. A good-sized adult (anything over 14 feet or so) may be a serious threat, and the largest adults approaching 20 feet in length could potentially kill a human being. However, this is an extraordinarily rare occurrence and you’re more likely to be hit by lightning on a sunny day than be attacked by a python.

Are they in danger?

Despite the many pythons that are killed for food or fear, they are a very adaptable species and it is thought that their numbers in the Philippines are stable. However, they can be subject to local extirpation (disappearance in a given area) due to targeted killing.

What is their scientific name and classification?

The Reticulated Python is scientifically known as Malayopython reticulatus. It is a member of the Python family, which are large, heavy-bodied non-venomous snakes that tend to wait for their prey in ambush and then kill it by constricting with their coils.

Some Reticulated Pythons seen in other counties

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If you saw a Reticulated Python, what would you do with it? What do you think should be done?