Big and Massive Pythons Found In Derelict Building

Two massive pythons have been discovered in a derelict building in Australia.

A team of snake catchers had been called out to inspect some old buildings on Cairns' Northern Beaches that were due for demolition.

The owner already suspected that there were snakes or other wildlife lurking among the walls and floors and when the snake catchers arrived, they found two 4.5m-long amethystine pythons.

David Walton, owner of Cairns Snake Removals, said the snakes remained "quite calm" while they were being handled.

He added: "I often see stories and pictures of other snake catchers restraining these pythons by the scruff of their necks but, in the right hands, this is not necessary. It only stresses and aggravates the snake, making it want to bite and constrict."

He said that if a python decided to wrap itself around a person in its own defence, the person may well end up with "serious bites and find yourself also in serious difficulty".

The amethystine is one of the world's largest snakes and has been recorded as long as of 8.5 metres but it is more often around five metres.

Unlike the anaconda of South America, it cannot feed on large mammals, instead preferring fruit bats, wallabies, rats, possums and small birds.

Mr Walton told the Brisbane Times that he usually only catches pythons of between two and three metres-long in the area, adding that these two had likely chosen the empty building for a little peace and quiet and its proximity to wallabies.

He described the buildings, which are in an area with a mixture of bush and housing, as having "all the right ingredients for a snake to move in".

The snakes have now been safely relocated.