BANGKOK — Nick Wildlife, a snake expert, points out that the case of a 4-meter-long python constricting a 64-year-old woman on Tuesday night, was not a hunt for prey but an act of self-defense. He also advised on survival techniques when constricted by a python.
On September 19, Anirut Chomngam, also known as Nick Wildlife, head of the Venomous Animal Toxicology team, posted a video on his YouTube channel “Nick Wildlife” to explain this case.
After interviewing Ms. Arom, the victim who was attacked and constricted by the snake for over two hours, the expert does not think it was a situation similar to the pythons eating persons in Sulawesi, Indonesia. He hypothesized that this large snake wasn’t hunting her as prey, but was defending itself.
Nick explained that based on the analysis of the information received, Ms. Arom was attacked around 8:30 p.m., a dark time when snakes often hunt for prey. The snake may have been hiding at the house beforehand.
When the woman couldn’t see it, she unknowingly walked towards the snake. The snake, misunderstanding that it was being attacked by a predator, defended itself by biting her leg. At this moment, Ms. Arom said that out of shock and pain, she grabbed the snake’s neck, which then led to her being constricted.
The snake expert advised the general public who might accidentally encounter snakes not to grab the snake’s neck as it will further stimulate constricting behavior, which is not for eating but for self-defense. The first recommended actions are:
Stay calm and call for help as quickly as possible. Pythons are large, and dealing with them alone is dangerous. Having multiple people help is safer.
Try to prevent the snake from constricting up to your neck. If it reaches the neck, even the strongest person might lose consciousness within seconds as the jugular vein gets compressed, preventing blood flow to the brain.
If the snake won’t release, try to grab its head. Meanwhile, try to find alcohol or products containing alcohol to pour over the snake’s mouth, which will make it choke and release. This is an effective way to unlock its grip.
After the python releases, try to control its head well. Never let go of the snake’s head.
For smaller snakes, if you can grab the head, start unwinding the constriction from the tail end by slowly rotating against the coil.
Regarding this particular snake that escaped, it’s unlikely to return as it was beaten and stabbed. It will know that this area is unsafe. When his venomous animal toxicology team arrived at the scene, they didn’t find this snake but caught a medium-sized python and two other snakes, indicating that this area is snake habitat.
His team also provided advice and a phone number to Ms. Arom in case she encounters snakes again.
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Related article: Two-Hour Battle: Thai Woman Fights Off 4-Meter Python Strangling Her
