On Sunday, locals at an Indian golf course discovered an expected morning visitor: a massive snake. A ten-foot python was found stuck in some fencing surrounding Bhubaneswar Golf Club, according to the Odisha Sun-Times.
The newspaper reported that “panic gripped residents” at the discovery of the reptile. But fascination did, too: a crowd gathered to check out the potential recapture and rescue of the snake. “Locals said they had never seen such a huge snake before,” the Sun-Times reported.
Employees called the “Snake Helpline” and expert snake-catchers were able to come in and resolve the slithery situation.
RELATED: Tour Confidential: Are you buying or selling Jordan Spieth stock this year?
Reporter Siba Mohanty praised the handling of the python and reported that the animal had been released back into the wild. “#SnakeHelpline did what it does best. Brought relief to the reptile and released it into forest,” he wrote.
A 10 ft long Indian #Python rescued from boundary net of Bhubaneswar Golf Club. It was found entangled in and spotted by the club employees. #SnakeHelpline did what it does best. Brought relief to the reptile and released it into forest 👏👏@NewIndianXpress #Bhubaneswar #Odisha pic.twitter.com/zmnVwcmXe5
— Siba Mohanty (@Siba_TNIE) November 11, 2018
Mohanty also identified the snake as an Indian Python. Indian pythons are found throughout southeast Asia, although they have achieved a level of endangered status in recent decades. Studies in India have shown that the snakes typically can grow to 10 or so feet, although the largest have approached 15 feet.
You can see the dramatic local news story on the snake’s appearance (and capture) here, including one man handling the snake by the tail:
Bhubaneswar Golf Club is located in the Infocity area of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a state in eastern India of which Bhubaneswar is the capital. The nine-hole course hosted a tournament on Sunday that included “industry captains” from local businesses and corporations. They competed as a part of the “Make in Odisha” series of competitions. The government of Odisha puts on events in a self-described “flagship biennial business event of the Government of Odisha.”
The course’s website raves about its picturesque setting. “It is surrounded on one side by country’s leading IT companies and stretches of forests and hillocks on the other side, giving one of the most picturesque views from the pavilion of the club house,” the site reads. With the python taken care of, it was back to normal business at the club on Monday.
