HOW PYTHONS KILL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 9

HOW PYTHONS KILL

DEADLY FIGHT iN AFRICAN BUSH.

Baas! Come quick! Bring a gun! A leopard calls!’’ “ A python and a leopard were in deadly combat. . . .

Pythons do not deliberately attack leopards; leopards do not, as. a rule, seek a fight with a python. In this instance no doubt the python had been lying in ambush, 1 on the watch for anything edible that might pass within striking distance. The leopard, also on. the prowl, had "been hoping to secure a meal by snatching a goat, fowl, or monkey. Tlie python-, seeing a moving object, struck and attempted to secure a stvangle-hokl. It had tile leopard iu a throe-coil grip; its head was hidden under a third fcoil to protect it from the gnashing jaws of the leopard.

“The snake was still, as if cast in bronze. Its death grip had been applied; it was awaiting the weakening and collapse of its intended victim. But it had not reckoned with the offensive armament of its foe. True, the Icopavu was so constricted that it was unable to use its terrible jaws to practical advantage. But one torypaw and on© lend foot were free: with these it was slowly, hut surely slitting the skin of the snake into ribbons. The reptile never winced, never moved, except to tighten imperceptibly, or shift, its embrace. Presently the leopard .was on its hack, snarling horribly and gnashing at the air with its formidable jaws, while it tried to gut a leverage with its free foot.

“Then the python made a fatal move. Driven at last by pain, or in order to procure a better hold that would br'ng its constricting noils over the leopard’s lungs and finish the fight quickly, it withdrew its head from the protecting coil. Quick as a flash the leopard saw rts advantage. Before the python could effect the deadly extra lap round the chest of its foe the leopard snapped, and the neck of the python was within its jaws. With -strength increased a hundred-fold by pain, remorseless hate, and anger, tlie teeth crashed through the flesh and bone; the python was done. Tho battle was over. The great coils began to relax, then unwind; presently tho snake was rolling and tumbling over the short grass in its deaththroes. AN UNCONQUERABLE BEAST.” “And what of the leopard? Jts hind legs and tho lower part of its body lay crushed and helpless, shapeless, on the ground. But the spirit of the beast was unconquerable Resting on its forelegs, it watched every movement of the python—ready, if necessary, to renew the fight. Then the silent observer intervened. Emerging from his lair. gun in hand, he strode forth into the open space. Snarling fiercely, tho leopard erect now on its forefeet, faced the new danger. Desperately it sought to close. Its body was hopelessly crushed, but, summoning all its strength, the brave animal dragged its paralysed form, several yards. .

Then a bullet in its brain ended its sufferings. “On 'examination the* lower part of the leopard’s body and thighs,proved to Ue a pulped mass; but chest, lungs, and heart. were uninjured. Had the man not appeared the victor of the fight would have lingered on miserably for days. Its ultimate recovery was impossible.” This is one of the many spirit-stir-ring stories which Air. F. W. FitzSimons tells in a book about the python. Air. FitzSimons is tile di-. rector of the Fort Elizabeth Museum and Snake Park in South Africa, and ho is well-known as a writer and an authority on snake poisons and their antidotes. Pythons are found in every country, including Australia, on which tine sun, shines strongly enough for their comfort. The rock python of South Africa is of an average length of 16ft.; in outlying parts which destructive man has not penetrated the species sometimes, attains a length of 18ft. Rock pythons have been known to grow 23ft. .and even 25ft. long. It is difficult to read of their methods of attack without an appropriate “creepy sensation.” Lying motionless as a stone, the python- pat-, ientjy .awaits the approach of an animal - or bird - within ,striking distance. : Then, with wide-gaping jaws, swift as an-arrow, it makes its thrust.- The; Lite; of a.pythpn is not venomous, but its teeth aro largo Land. pqwcrful, recurved-, so that Jiliivy may? take a firmer* grip. Tito instant,, the? jaws close upon the victim-,- tjiq; deadly: coils operate.- The stroke and-the oufoldmont are so rapic) that the human eye cannot register t'he. separato-movements; The initial -lunge .is seen ; then, a blurred vision of: moving, coils. A half-stifled sitcom/* startles >he i«fatcb/*r .as .crushed ribs penetrate lungs and. heart / and the python is seen mor tionless waiting until the last conylusions. of its victim have ended; It is comforting to know that when . a -python is sufficiently large to. constrict its -victim efficiently. ■ the; prey .suffers little or no pain. ■

i TJiose who handle pythons = takegrave 'risks,' for'a, reptile/which . can fight a leopard ns capable of. making •short woi'k' of a!; man. ‘ ‘After ■ capture pythons ' usually become' sullen' • and •seldom show a’disposition-to attack

anyone entering the cage,” says Mr.. FitzSimons. “When it is necessary to handle a large one- the keeper approaches, blanket over arm. Should the repti’e make a sudden lunge with gaping jaws, he trusts the blanket at him and receives the blow on it. Oiie of our keepers was a careless fellow, very self-confid-ent. Despite advice, lie entered the python cage with his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbow, and boldly strode toward a big python with the intention of gripping it by tlio neck. All we saw was a red and white flash before the gaping jaws of the python closed hard and strong over the man’s forearm. Simultaneously three coils were thrown round his right leg, and ho was battling for life. Only too well he knew that if the snake succeeded in getting a coil round his chest his ribs would bo crushed and the splintered ends would pierce heart and lungs like so many sharp daggers. To save the man wo were obliged to sever the python’s backbone at the neck. It was done greatly lo my regret, for I valued the python far more than I did the conceited fool of a man whoso idiocy had caused the trouble.”

Mr. FitzSimons once, had to fight a python, hut lie did not invite the comliat. One night, during-a hunting trip in the mountains of Soutli Africa, ho was gathering material for a. fire. “Finding a clump ot f reeferns I began tearing off the d,3od 'ljower 'leaves. Presently 1 seized something which moved. It felt cold. . The snake was a python. In the sooty darkness it lunged and took a mouthful of shirt and tough shoulder muscle. Then, with deadly intent, it groped with its tail to find my body. Tine squirming tail, twisting and curling, slithered across my chest. I gripped it with both hands. My only hope of surviving the combat lay in preventing that deadly tail from curving round i\iy body or neck. In similar manner we had seen a. kaffir’s body squeezed, to a pulp before we could cut .the, repti’e’s. head, off with a jack knile. \ isions of that incident rose before .while, wo tumbled . and. rolled amid the boulders and ferns. All my energy, was concentrated into,the one desperate endeavour to hold the python’s tail. • - . - : ' 1 PRIMITIVE .STRATEG Y. ' “Meanwhile my friend, hearing the din of battle;, shouted vaiiily for in* structions. , I heard him not. I. was too preoccupied-in mind : ahd body. In those . days I Avas. tough -and strong—every muscle fibre was like tempered stq'e) with rough riding, climbing, and .roaming in- the wilds. Well ft was for me., : .'... When in ,desperate liced one’s primitive , animal instincts arise.and flaniib out. . Instinctively I sought for the python’s neck, with my., lips,, and gripped, it with my teeth. Fiercely and -sayage : ly I Hit, and my teeth closed * down and sunk in. , I felt the backbo io yield. An instant, later the hitherto taut, muscles of . the snako relaxed and the .body lashed .and., squirmed aimlessly., Securing-the knife, at my belt, .T,severed the python’s, head.” Mr.. FitzSimons’s book, which has many instructive •• illustrations,, is designed, for laymen; there is an appendix- for. specialists.