AssetID: 54923902
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Hiss-teria Down Under: Aussie Zoo Weighs Enormous Pythons In Nerve-Wracking Health Check
Caption: Two monstrous pythons at an Australian zoo have undergone the hair-raising task of being weighed – and it's not for the faint-hearted. At the Australian Reptile Park, keepers faced off with two of their most formidable residents: Fang, a gigantic reticulated python, and Jockey, a Burmese python with a serious appetite. The powerful serpents were hoisted out of their enclosures and into the sunshine for their annual weigh-in – a procedure that required no less than four expert handlers to manage their immense strength and size. While soaking up the sun provides essential stimulation for the reptiles, the process is far from relaxing for staff. As powerful constrictors, a wrong move could quickly turn deadly – making the handlers' precision and teamwork absolutely vital. Jockey, a 3.7-metre Burmese python, was first up on the scales. The heavyweight tipped the balance at a whopping 56kg – a 4kg gain from last year. His size was calculated using twine and a tape measure in a gentle, stress-free method. Then came the real showstopper. Fang, the park’s rapidly growing reticulated python, lived up to her fearsome name – stretching an incredible 5.7 metres and weighing in at 48kg, up 3kg from her previous check-up. As the largest snake species on Earth, reticulated pythons like Fang can grow to astonishing proportions, and it looks like she’s well on her way to becoming the zoo’s heaviest inhabitant. "Both snakes are growing beautifully, which is exactly what we like to see," said Dylan Wallis, Head of Reptiles at the Australian Reptile Park. "Fang is especially impressive—she’s packing on size fast, and I have no doubt she’ll overtake Jockey in the near future. When it comes to pythons, size really does matter—it tells us they’re thriving." The annual weigh-ins aren’t just for show. Tracking the snakes’ size and weight is essential for monitoring their diet, growth, and overall wellbeing. And with animals this large and powerful, every detail counts.
Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,snake,health check,weight,weighed
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