And you know what? It turned out to be a pretty big one!
Last night I was sitting at the computer at around 10PM when the dogs began to make a big commotion out front. Turns out it was the neighbor from across the soi trying to get my attention. This is the same neighbor who assisted me with a cobra capture earlier this year (https://teakdoor.com/thailands-zoos-a...ml#post2786682).
He was very excited and talking rapidly in Thai, which I mostly cannot understand. I eventually made out the words ngu (snake) and yai (big) and figured that he needed my help to capture a snake at his house. I went to grab the snake catcher tool that we used for the cobra and brought it to show him. He gestured to his thigh and said yai again, indicating he thought the snake catcher was not big enough. So I went back and grabbed the larger king cobra sized catcher and went along with him to his house with both catchers in hand.
When we got to the back of his house, there were already 4 or 5 people trying to get at the snake beneath a pile of wooden beams. I could see that it was a kind of python called a reticulated, based on the pattern on it's body and orange colored head and eyes. This type of python can attain the greatest length of any kind of snake if it's a very large specimen (6+ meters according to wikipedia). The pattern and iridescent sheen of its skin makes for a beautiful animal if you appreciate such things.
The neighbor motioned to the trees overhead which led me to believe someone had spotted it while it was coming down to ground level. I asked that they not hurt the snake and the neighbor seemed to know what I was talking about and pointed to a burlap bag. I handed the king cobra sized catcher to the neighbor's brother and went back to my house to grab my camera.
When I returned, I was able to get several photos of them trying to work the snake from under the beams. They managed to get the catcher around the snake's neck after a while, but still could not get it to budge. Then someone tossed a cloth over the snake's head, which seemed to disorient the snake and calm it. From that point they were able to gradually work it out by steadily pulling it from the front.
After it was extricated, it was carried out to the soi in front of the house where I got several photos before it was put into the burlap bag. I estimate the length of this one at 4+ meters, which is average for an adult. The body girth was as big as my thigh and a snake of this size is a dangerous thing around a house with 3 small children! I began to wonder what might have been the fate of some of the cats that have been roaming the neighborhood.
When the retic was placed safely in the burlap bag, the snake catcher loop was released and removed. The snake in the bag was placed into the back of a waiting pick-up truck. Since I cannot speak Thai, I could not determine where they intended to take it, and hope they knew of a good place where it would be out of harm's way. My adrenalin was up for the remainder of the evening!