Two (2) male reticulated pythons (𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) from Malabon and Navotas City were retrieved by the Metropolitan Environmental Office–North (MEO-North) of the DENR National Capital Region on Monday, 23 January 2023.
The first snake, retrieved from Barangay Niugan in Malabon City, measured 9.2 feet while the other, surrendered by the Navotas City Agriculture Office, was a bit longer at 12.3 feet. The snakes were immediately taken to the Wildlife Rescue Center at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City for temporary care and custody. Reticulated pythons are known to grow up to 16 feet in the wild—with some, on rare occasions, even reaching more than 30 feet—making it the world’s longest snake species.
While reticulated pythons are listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their population in the wild, nonetheless, decreasing. Hunting, illegal trade, killing, and habitat destruction are among the driving forces of its population decline. These acts are prohibited under Section 27, pars. (a), (e), and (f) of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. Those found guilty of these acts could face jail time, pay fines, or both.
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