Python Sawa

I'd been staying and dutifully doing my daily farm exercise since March 2007, and I'm amazed to see many colorful and wonderful insects, lizards, reptiles, birds, fresh water fish, and some unusual plants. These are few things that enliven my interest and why I'm so thankful for the fulfillment of my dream to have my own farm, and to live in the country side. I have seen plenty of these beautiful living thing but most of the times, I missed to take their pictures. At last, I have something to write and tell you of what I've got for this week.


Around 11:00 AM, Ma Jose, an elderly helper in the farm caught a 1.25 meter python with colorful body while clearing the bush. How Ma Jose did catch this lengthy snake?

Seeing the end of the python's tail moving in the grass, he quickly grabs a bamboo pole about a meter length. He cautiously glides his eyes to the movement of the grass. When he calculated that it was the snake head moving swiftly in the grass, he quickly releases a powerful strike. Upon seeing the tail flick upward, he gave a second strike at the middle part of the python's body. This time, the snake came out from the tall grass, curling in pain.

While snakes pose threat to human as well as to some livestock, snakes are desirable because they help control rodent and insect populations. Snakes can capture these pests in burrows and under cover where other predators can't.

Well, if you're scared of snakes, it's best just to be watchful at all times.

Here are some simple precautions to take to avoid snakes:

• Snakes won't bite if they don't feel threatened. Do not approach or provoke snakes even if they seem to be dead. Some only move to strike when prey is close.
• Look closely where you walk especially in areas with tall grass; wear stout booths.
• Check bedding, clothes and packs before putting them on. Some snakes use them as shelter.
• If you have to kill a snake, use a long stick to make a single chopping blow to the back of the head. Make it effective first time; a wounded snake is very dangerous.
• If bitten by a snake, stay calm.
• Do not consider sucking or cutting the wound. Apply pressure at the wound site and immobilized affected part.
• Apply a bandage, not a tourniquet, above the bite and bandage down over the bite (e.g. for an ankle bite, start bandaging at the knee).
• Place wound in cool water or use ice to cool.
• Try not to move the victim. Check pulse and breathing, stand by to give artificial respiration.

I'll be around next time for more interesting chronicles happening in the farm. Cheers.