A viral video recently uploaded to Instagram captures one of the most interesting snake sightings we’ve seen in a long while.
The video, originally uploaded by ViralHog user Ahmad Rafi and reposted to Instagram via Pubity, shows a snake – identified by commenters as a ‘rat snake’ – gulping back water from a bottle.
Watch:
View this post on Instagram
Rat snakes are reportedly not harmful and pose no threats to humans. They occupy many types of habitats, from deep woods to forest edges, overgrown fields and meadows.
They can be skittish in the presence of humans, however, this snake appears to have been so thirsty that the presence of a human did not perturb him much.
Many commenters on the video were puzzled by how the man knew the snake was thirsty, while others commended him for helping a friend in need:
Last year, in an unfortunate event that occurred in the North West province, a 4.1 metre-long python (weighing 30 kilograms) is said to have swallowed a pitbull.
Charlotte Molefe, from Bethanie in Brits, told a local publication, Kormorant, that a worker heard the dog crying in pain. Investigating the strange sounds, the worker saw that the snake had swallowed the dog.
Calling the police for assistance, Charlotte was then given the contact details of Jac-Louis Horn from Critter Chronicles. The python spat the dog out when it was caught. However, according to a comment made on Critter Chronicles’ Facebook account regarding the incident, the dog did not make it.
The snake was then safely relocated to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve.
Compiled by Savanna Douglas, contributions from Jade Rhode
Also see: Safety tips before hiking
