Pattaya, Thailand– Shoppers at a bustling mall in Pattaya City were thrown into a frenzy when a nearly 3-meter long python made an unexpected appearance. The incident occurred at 4:00 p.m. on September 29, 2024, when the Pattaya Land Disaster Prevention Radio Center received a report of a large snake under a car in the mall’s parking lot on Pattaya Klang Road.
Upon arrival, officers found a crowd of onlookers, including both locals and tourists, gathered around the scene. The python was initially discovered curled up on the tire of a white Nissan sedan. As officers attempted to capture the snake, it became startled and slithered away, seeking refuge under another vehicle, a green Toyota. The sudden movement of the snake caused panic among the bystanders, who scattered in all directions.
Capturing the python proved to be a challenging task as it hid in the engine compartment of the car and refused to come out. The officers resorted to using mosquito repellent to coax the snake out of its hiding spot. After nearly two hours, the python, disoriented by the repellent, finally emerged from the engine compartment. The officers were then able to safely capture the snake and release it back into the wild.
Mr. Mongkol Khanthaphonbamrung, a 63-year-old taxi driver, recounted that the python had likely fallen out of a sedan, believed to be a taxi service via an application (Bolt), after they dropped off a customer at the mall. The snake then slithered under the car of another mall visitor, leading to the chaotic scene.
