The reticulated python showed signs of mouth rot or some other ailment when Hart captured the snake. Hopefully the snake isn't doing too bad and will be cured soon.
Joseph Hart, a Southern California based reptile educator and wildlife rehabilitation was called to remove a large reticulated python from a parking garage in Los Angeles. The snake was reported to be atop a dumpster in the garage and when Hart arrived, he managed to safely remove the snake from the dumpster and carry it onto the garage floor.
“On Tuesday evening I received a call requesting some help about a snake situation in LA. I immediately jumped into my truck and headed straight there to help out,” Hart wrote on his Instagram page. “This poor snake, who we’ve named “Apples”, was left in a small bin container in a dumpster at an apartment complex in downtown LA.”
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Hart noticed that the python appeared to have some sort of mouth rot and announced that he will get the animal the good medical care it needs to thrive.
“Now this is majorly upsetting because this is a case of mistreatment and animal cruelty. You can see that Apples has a horrible mouth infection. . .This breaks my heart because the previous owner was most likely overwhelmed with the idea of treating the medical condition, as vet bills can be pricey. But dumping or abandoning the animal is no solution either.”
The retic was beautiful and had a very calm demeanor as Joe explained about the mouth rot and his hopes for the reptile.
“With that said, there may not be A LOT of options when it comes to situations like this. For instance, the police department, animal control, and other reptiles rescues were notified before I was. NONE of them were willing to help out. I was even told that the snake would have been “put down. I am so honored to have had the opportunity to give Apples a second chance. She’s strong, beautiful, and I can tell you right now, has the WILL TO LIVE!! Sometimes all we need is a second chance. So to all pet owners, there may be times when our animals get sick, or we’re simply overwhelmed with them. PLEASE do not commit animal cruelty or abandonment. There are people who can help.”
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Reticulated Python Information
The reticulated python is considered the world’s longest snake and one of the three heaviest snakes. It is found throughout much of Southeast and South Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Borneo. The snake is popular with expert reptile keepers, though prior to captive breeding efforts over the last 30 plus years in the United States, the species was considered hard to handle due to its aggressive temperament
