Tweed snake catcher Sarah Mailey slams ‘cruel’ coastal carpet python death at Bogangar

A Tweed snake catcher is fuming after she had to euthanise a harmless python because a man repeatedly bashed it against the ground in front of horrified children.

Passionate Tweed snake catcher Sarah Mailey. Picture: Supplied.

A Tweed snake catcher is filled with venom after she had to euthanise a harmless snake because a man repeatedly bashed it against the ground in front of horrified children.

Sarah Mailey of I’ll Catch It Snake Relocations said the “disgusting” actions which resulted in the death of the non-venomous coastal carpet python prompted her to lodge an animal cruelty report with the RSPCA.

Ms Mailey said she was called to Wattle Ave at Bogangar on Monday. A stocky man wearing a bucket hat and black and yellow shorts was seen carrying a brush cutter and a python to a park between Ponciana and Tallowood St.

“This man bashed the python which had to be euthanised due to extensive injury,” she said.

“Unfortunately five children witnessed this and are distraught.”

Ms Mailey – who has appealed for CCTV of the incident to pass on to the RSPCA – told this publication the “cruel” attack on the python had left young witnesses “traumatised”.

The coastal carpet python was so badly beaten it needed to be put down. Picture: Supplied.

“We actually received the call out from one of the mums, who said her eight-year-old was in tears,” she said.

“I received the photos and knew it was bad but it was just horrific when I got to the scene.
“The snake’s neck was fully broken with all the bones crushed, but the skin was still hanging on by a thread.
“It was still alive and sitting there trying to lift parts of its body. If I didn’t euthanise the snake it would have suffered a slow and agonising death for 48 hours or more.
“I was told by witnesses the man held the snake by the tail and repeatedly bashed its head against the ground”.

Ms Mailey said she was furious every time she heard a person exclaim “the only good snake is a dead snake” and that it showed a “bogan mentality”.

“We absolutely need to ramp up education efforts in schools around snakes and especially for our beautiful pythons, which are completely harmless,” she said.
“They are absolutely beautiful creatures and we need to learn to coexist with all of our native wildlife.”

Ms Mailey said we need better education around coexisting with snakes in Australia. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Mailey said the pythons posed no risk to humans, but owners of guinea pigs and other small pets should take necessary steps to snake-proof cages and enclosures.
“It’s not like the movies where a python is going to constrict a baby. Bite it and eat it. Not in Australia anyway,” she said.

Catching or killing a snake in NSW without a licence can incur a fine of up to $10,000, and/or 10 years in prison.

The coastal carpet python is found throughout northern NSW and its patch extends to Cape York in North Queensland.

The snakes are not listed as an endangered species, but are considered an essential part of ecosystems.
They face threats including habitat destruction, dog and cat attacks, vehicle strikes and the illegal pet trade. Conservation efforts are in place to protect the species.

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