'Monster' 18ft python rescued along with three others after being found dumped in woods

Owners of RSG Reptiles,Susan and Rob Stokes,and their son George with the 18ft reticulated python which has been nicknamed ‘Titch’ (Picture: RSG Reptiles)

An 18ft ‘monster’ python was found in the Lincolnshire countryside along with three others – all thought to be abandoned pets.

A fifth snake could still be on the loose,say police,with people in the areaurged to be vigilant and keep dogs on a lead.

The 18ft python and one measuring 14ft were discovered on Friday in woods in the village of Manton,while two more around 11ft long were found some three miles away in Twigmore Woods on Saturday.

All four are reticulated pythons,the world’s largest type of snake and native to South East Asia. They’re non venomous but can squeeze the life out of their prey.

However,RSG Reptiles in Alford,who rescued the snakes,and Humberside Police said the animals will generally only attack if they feel threatened.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Officers from Humberside Police’s Rural Task Force are investigating potential offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.Rob Stokes,owner of RSG Reptiles,told Metro he got a call from fellow reptile experts,Exotic to the World in Cleethorpes,to say a ‘big’ wild type python had been found on the loose and that it was too large to home in their facility.‘They didn’t say how big exactly,so when I arrived I was shocked. It’s 18ft – a monster! Not what you expect to see in the English countryside.’The Stoke family with the two albino pythons,and the pied golden child morph python (Picture: RSG Reptiles)He said a member of the public had come across it outside a converted church.Rob put the brown-coloured snake,which he’s nicknamed ‘Titch’,in his van and was on the drive back to the centre when he got a call that another python had just been found in the same area.So,after a quick U-turn he headed back to pick up a 14ft albino snake that the person who found it had managed to put in an empty bin.‘I took them both back and we gave them a bath as they were covered in parasitic mites – which in the snake-owning world is a bit like your dog getting fleas.’The following morning Rob got another call from Exotic to the World to say a man had found a third python,believed to be a pied golden child morph,in Tigmore Woods.‘Thankfully,this guy had handled snakes before,so he wrapped it in a duvet,which is fine to do,until we got there.’After putting the python safely in the van,and searching the area for any more snakes,Rob and his 15-year-old son George decided to head to Manson – where the first two were found – and do another sweep there.Within an hour Rob spotted a fourth python – a second albino.‘We were about to leave and I looked in the hedgerow and saw this bright yellow and white snake,’ he said.All four pythons are now safe at RSG’s facility,which rescues reptiles and offers educational animal encounters.

Reticulated pythons

The reticulated python is recognized as the world’s longest snake,typically reaching lengths of 10-20ft (3-6m),with some reportedly growing up to 32 feet (around 9.8m).

It is also one of the heaviest snakes,weighing between 75 and 350 pounds (34-159kg) depending on size and subspecies.

In the pet world,they are often bred to come in various colours,including albino. The 18ft python found in Manton,however,has the colouring of a type found in the wild.

Reticulated pythons typically ambush their prey,seize it in their mouth,conscript the animal’s body,suffocating it,then eat it whole.

They tend to eat smaller mammals and birds,but occasionally larger animals such as pigs and deer,and on rare occasions humans.

Reticulated pythons are found wild in South Asia and South East Asia,in countries such as Indonesia,the Philippines,Malaysia,Thailand,India and Bangladesh.

It is legal to keep the species as pets in the UK.

‘For now we have to treat them like evidence for the police,because the incident is being investigated. So they’ll stay with us until there’s either a prosecution or no further action from the police.

‘After that they’ll either move to suitable homes or stay with us,and potentially become part of the animal encounters we do.’

Rob said it’s sad that the snakes were likely abandoned by their owner,who could have reached out for help.

‘We understand people’s lives can change in a flash,leaving them struggling to look after their pets,but all they’ve got to do is call us,or their local exotic pet shop or the RSPCA and we’ll take them and make sure they have good homes.’

One of the albino snakes found (Picture: Humberside Police)

He said it’s unclear whether there’s definitely still a snake on the loose.

‘There was reports of another,but there’s a chance it could be one of the ones we already have. However,I’d advise people in the areas they were found to keep their dogs on leads.

‘These snakes are used to humans,and unlikely to harm anyone unless threatened,but there is still an element of risk,especially to dogs and small animals,so be vigilant.’

Police,meanwhile,has warned the public not to approach any snakes found in the wild and to call 101 immediately with a precise location and quote the reference 25*81788.

They also appealed for information about how the snakes were released and reminded the public not to dump unwanted exotic animals.