Three Ball Pythons Rescued in Queens Park
On Thursday, three large ball pythons were spotted slithering through Queens Forest Park. Among them was one, affectionately named Kevin by rescuers, who had quite the adventure.
The first four-foot-long python drew attention on Wednesday, startling pedestrians near Wood Haven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue.
Rescuer Megan Rikari mentioned that one of her team observed a vehicle nearly hitting a snake in the middle of a busy intersection. “He was trying to bring it back into the woods,” she said.
With the help of bystanders, they managed to capture the python, which had been kept as an exotic pet. However, reports indicated that two more snakes were still at large in the park as of Thursday afternoon.
The captured snake now bears Kevin’s name after one of the rescuers who helped catch it. They are currently seeking a new home for him outside the city, where owning ball pythons is legal.
As rescuers searched for the remaining two pythons, concerns grew that the snakes wouldn’t survive the cold weather if not found soon. Rikari noted, “We’ve rescued many cats and dogs, but this is a first for us.”
She speculated that these pythons may have been abandoned by their previous owners, although she didn’t think they were exceptionally large or difficult to care for.
Unfortunately, these stranded snakes aren’t the only unfortunate pets in the city. Animal rescuers are also on the lookout for a parakeet that has escaped in Central Park, where it’s mingling with local sparrows as temperatures begin to drop.
