Python Eats Golf Balls in Australia

A python found in a chicken coop in northern New South Wales (Australia) was operated on in Queensland to remove four golf balls from its intestine, after it had mistaken them for eggs and eaten them.

A couple from Nobby's Creek had placed the golf balls in their chicken coop to encourage their hens to become broody. Instead of broody chickens, they found an 80cm long python with four conspicuous lumps and no golf balls. Figuring that the silly-looking snake must have eaten them, the kind couple took the python to the vet, who sent it to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where veterinarians operated to remove the four balls from its intestines. The veterinarian in charge of the operation, Dr Michael Pyne, said that the snake is now recovering well and would not have survived without surgery as the balls were stuck and could not be passed.

Snakes such as pythons are able to dislocate their jaw in order to swallow food (and golf balls) which are larger than their head. This allows them to consume their prey whole without chewing or tearing it up into smaller pieces like other animals.

The wildlife sanctuary treats many native Australian animals each year. Often these animals have been injured during an encounter with a lawnmower, car, dog or cat. During Summer there are frequently bushfire victims that need attention. Sanctuaries and wildlife shelters receive a little money from government bodies, but are largely dependent upon donations to treat and rehabilitate wild animals for release.

Snakes are unusual animals for veterinarians to operate on for a number of reasons. Firstly the lack of limbs means that it is more difficult to locate body landmarks, such as the heart, liver and other organs. Instead information is available for each species about what percent of their body length the organs are usually located, which is different for each species. In the case of this python it was not a big problem, because the golf balls could be easily seen and felt from the outside.

All reptiles, including snakes, can be difficult to manage after surgery because their metabolism is related to the ambient temperature. This can affect how well their immune system functions, and how quickly they recover from anaesthetic after surgery.

Despite being unusual patients, the veterinarians and vet nurses at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary managed to adapt conventional techniques to treat this exotic patient.