A 16-foot python that was believed to have been abandoned inside a dumpster at a downtown Los Angeles apartment complex last week was retrieved by reptile handler Joseph Hart.
Hart, 24, known as the “Reptile Hunter,” removed the 65-pound female snake after receiving a phone call about the reptile slithering about in a residential dumpster on the evening of August 5.
Newsweek has reached out to Hart for comment.
Why It Matters
Pythons are some of the largest snakes in the world, can range from 23 to 33 feet in length, and can weigh up to 250 pounds, according to the San Diego Zoo. Pythons live in a wide range of habitats, depending on the species, but many seek shelter in trees and can hold onto branches with their tails.
According to the World Animal Foundation, it’s generally legal to own certain types of pythons as pets in the Golden State, however there are restrictions and regulations. While some species, like Burmese pythons, are prohibited, others like ball pythons are commonly kept as pets.
The python’s discovery has sparked animal-welfare concerns and discussions about abandoned exotic pets—and who takes responsibility for their care after rescue.
What To Know
During an interview appearance over the weekend on Fox News, Hart said it was the first time he had been called to retrieve a snake of that size, adding that he believed it was most likely abandoned.
The snake suffered from a mouth infection commonly referred to as “mouth rot,” which Hart said may have been a reason she was left in the dumpster.
“This was definitely someone’s pet animal, which makes a pretty tragic story. Indeed, this animal was dumped,” Hart told Fox News.
According to Hart, the infection was likely caused by burns, which can occur when snakes are kept too close to their heat bulbs. “So actually, on the top of her head, on her nose is also burned,” he said.
Hart and his team seek to promote wildlife conservation through animal rehabilitation and public education.
Hart believes the python was most likely abandoned due to the “overwhelming pressure of the vet bills and expenses” caused by its mouth infection.
Such financial strain “unfortunately leads to an awful solution to the problem,” he said.
Retrieving the 16-foot snake was no easy feat, as she was “pure muscle,” Hart added.
This stock image shows a snake.
This stock image shows a snake.
Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Joseph Hart told Fox News: “I was totally manhandling her and grabbing her neck and head very tight, which I don’t enjoy doing with any creature. I’m apologizing to her, and at that moment, I think the bystanders around realized that she meant no harm, and so I continued to educate the people about the animal.”
He added: “She’s a very tame animal…It breaks my heart because this person most likely did take care of the snake, did love the snake and was just overwhelmed with the medical issue and decided to make a very poor decision about abandoning her.”
What Happens Next?
Hart and his team at Reptile Hunter are working to rehabilitate the python, whom they have named “Apples.”
“We’ve been giving her antibiotic injections and we have been cleaning out her mouth with hydrogen peroxide and iodine. It’s really gruesome and I feel so awful…it’s extremely painful as you can imagine,” he said, adding that he has “high hopes” the snake will make a full recovery.