Family on blackberry hunt in park cross paths with 4-foot python

Tom Gallant, 34, had been with his wife and two children when they spotted the large snake hidden among the blackberry bushes at Ley Hill Park, in Northfield.

Warnings had previously been issued by the RSPCA about a 5ft (1.5m) escaped snake in the park with people urged not to approach the reptile.

Tom had joked with his partner Jenna, 34, before they set out they had better keep an eye out for the missing royal python.

But they were left stunned after stumbling across the slippery customer near an owl-shaped bench daughter Eden, three, was about to sit on, which left the youngster 'screaming'.

He posted the find in a local WhatsApp group and a resident used to handling snakes retrieved it to take to the RSPCA on Tuesday afternoon (20/8).

Royal pythons are primarily found in central and western Africa and can grow up to 6ft (1.8m) long and weigh up to 3kg.

They mainly dine on small mammals like rodents and occasionally birds but can eat anything up to twice the size of their head after suffocating its prey.

Tom, of Northfield, who is also dad to four-week-old Oliver, said: “We were just taking a walk over the fields as we do most weeks and Jenna said remember to watch out for the snake.

"But I thought that's like a needle in a haystack, there's no way would we spot this.

“Eden wanted to go to this owl bench. Just behind the owl bench was this snake on the ground. My wife spotted it and said 'Tom the snakes here'.

“My daughter screamed and we picked it up. She could have stood on it and perhaps been bitten.

"We tried calling the RSPCA but couldn’t get through the options so we text the community WhatsApp group.

“A guy said he handled snakes and came over. He’s from South Africa and handles snakes. He said did I want to hold it, it was cold to the touch.

“He came armed with a pillowcase - just a pillowcase. As soon as he saw it he knew what it was.

“It was cold to the touch and quite heavy, they’re just pure muscle.

“It was around 4ft. It was a bit shorter than originally thought. It had been on the loose for the last two weeks.

“But is was really thick and had the markings of what I perceive to be more dangerous snakes.

"To me it looked like something that could kill you. We made sure to keep the snake in our eyesight so it could be caught.

“We didn’t want the wrong person finding it and hitting it with a bat.

“It was just resting. It started to move slightly when we were waiting. If it moved further into the hedge, we would’ve followed it.

"To actually find it was pretty mad.”

After being collected Tom, who runs a Christian student charity, said the snake was taken to a nearby specialist rescue centre by the man.

He added: "It's nice to know it's been found and not harmed and we got lots of comments in group thanking us and saying well done."

Several sightings in the park had been reported last week, according to the Friends of Ley Hill Park's Facebook group.

Les Basford, manager of the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, issued a warning at the time.

He said: "If you went up to it and surprised it, it could strike but generally they are very passive.

"With all snakes it's best just to leave it alone and get professional advice.

"More than likely it's someone's pet. Snakes are like Houdini – they can escape from anywhere.

"Its teeth could break the skin if it bit properly but it would only be a defensive manoeuvre."

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “Snakes are excellent escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid to make a break for it.

“The RSPCA urges all pet snake owners to be extra vigilant at this time of year, invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and make sure that enclosure is kept secure – and locked if necessary – when unattended.

“Another reason why more snakes escape in the summer is that some owners take them outside to take advantage of the natural sunlight.

“While sunlight is good for reptiles, the RSPCA urges owners to ensure their pet is kept secure when doing so as they can warm up and move very quickly on a sunny day.

“While many of the snakes we deal with are thought to be escaped pets, sadly, there are also a lot of abandoned snakes.

“We find that many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, which we believe contributes to the hundreds of animals every year who have sadly been abandoned when their owners can no longer meet their needs.”