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The Olive Python is the largest snake up here in the Top End, reaching lengths of over 4 metres! They are often found around water and at a large size will take down wallabies and freshwater crocodiles.
At this large size these slow snakes are unfortunately vulnerable to becoming roadkill at night. Always responsibly slow down or stop if you see a snake on the road!
One of the "beasts" that guests had the opportunity to meet at the "Breakfast with the Beasts" program is a female Angolan python. She's an education animal who meets many humans at events and programs, though she's not on exhibit full-time.
Angolan pythons come from southwest Africa.
See Kidwelly Castle rising above the river Gwendraeth on a misty morning and prepare to be amazed. This is the medieval fortress of everyone’s dreams.
The shot is just the gatehouse , the castle extends for a long way beyond ( see shot in comment box below ).
That’s probably why it appears in the very first scene of ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. But it would have been no laughing matter to attack this military stronghold.
Kidwelly began in the early 12th century as a Norman ‘ringwork’ castle made of wood and protected only by an earthen bank and ditch. Not surprisingly it was under constant attack by Welsh princes including the Lord Rhys, who captured it in 1159.
Four decades later the Normans were back in charge. By the 1280s the Chaworth brothers, powerful Marcher lords, had created the stone ‘castle within a castle’ that still stands today.
Imagine being a Welsh attacker. First you had to conquer the great gatehouse with its drawbridge and portcullis, a hail of arrows and rocks raining down on you. Breach these outer defences and you were faced by the four towers of the inner ward. No way forward – and nowhere to hide. A true killing zone.
After centuries of see-sawing conflict between Norman invaders and native princes Kidwelly was now a match for any castle in Wales. The gatehouse added by the Duchy of Lancaster was the icing on the cake. Even the forces of Owain Glyndŵr couldn’t break through.
The invading Normans took only a few years to conquer England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. But Wales held out for two-and-a-half centuries.
Kidwelly Castle is a symbol of this enduring conflict. And it was here in 1136 that a warrior princess turned herself into one of Welsh history’s greatest heroines.
Gwenllian was authentic Welsh royalty – sister of the northern prince Owain Gwynedd and wife of Gruffudd ap Rhys, lord of Deheubarth. But she definitely didn’t live the life of a pampered princess.
Under constant threat from the Normans she was forced to hide away in the deep forests, where she raised four sons. Her husband was busy building an army and plotting lightning raids. But he chose the wrong time to head north for help.
In his absence Maurice de Londres, lord of Kidwelly Castle, began to gather forces for a counter-attack. He had to be stopped. So Gwenllian donned her battledress and entered the field herself.
She was ‘like some second Queen of the Amazons’, said the admiring historian Gerald of Wales. Some call her the Welsh Boudicca – the only woman to lead a medieval Welsh army into battle.
But they were no match for the Normans. She was captured and beheaded for treason. It’s said a spring welled up where she died – still known as Maes Gwenllian, or the Field of Gwenllian.
Her death wasn’t in vain. She inspired a popular uprising that swept the Normans out of West Wales. Finally true poetic justice was achieved by her youngest son, Rhys ap Gruffudd, who was just four years old when his mother died.
The Lord Rhys, as he was later known, captured Kidwelly Castle in 1159 and was recognised by King Henry II as the undisputed ruler of the region. But his death in 1197 provoked a power struggle. Just four years later the castle was back in Anglo-Norman hands.
You can pay tribute to brave and beautiful Princess Gwenllian at her monument near the castle gatehouse. You might even spot the headless ghost that’s reputed to stalk the grounds.
Kidwelly Castle is now in the hands of CADW , the equivalent of English Heritage in Wales .
with thanks to Cadw for the above information .
This was a pleasant surprise sighting... well not at first haha i nearly stepped on it! Shortly after realizing what it was my initial fear quickly changed to excitement, this is the first python i have seen in the wild. I've brightened this photo up a bit.
The FWC (Florida wildlife commission) Has used the exceptional snake hunting skills of Irula tribesmen from India to help in their invasive Python removal program. In their first 8 days, the Irula tribesmen, removed 13 Burmese Pythons from S.E. Florida!! !(Over 1,100 hits on Explore so far!)
Morelia viridis
Mission success! My first wild Australian Green python photographed in situ at night, low to the ground in ambush mode.
My website - goo.gl/Pfrc4t
Sony A7iii + 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS No flash
I hope everyone is having a great day! Best to you always! 😊
Another approach to designing an origami Python logo. This model is folded from two separate sheets, which allows the snakes to be different colors and have color-change eyes using yet another color.
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Street Photography, Jungle Style.
Jungle Photography, Street Style.
Nikon D300 DX Camera.
Nikkor 17-55 2.8 Lens.
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Back Story ...................
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OK, I know a lot of you want some updated info on the political situation here in Thailand.
Things have been happening at a very fast pace.Large stashes of weapons and bombs are being discovered nearly everyday.
The daily shootings and grenade attacks have stopped for the most part due to the Coup.
A few hundred politicians and their cronies have been brought in for a friendly chat with the military.
As of this mornings news 5 Trillion Baht $ is missing from the gov coffers.Divide that by 30 to get a close count in US Dollars.
Three million tones of rice is missing from the gov warehouses.
This number is expected to keep rising as the investigation continues.
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Number #1 wife and I are doing fine, that goes for all the dogs as well.
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The early heavy rains have brought in a bumper crop of frogs which also brings in a large amount of snakes.
Needless to say Mr Monkey Boy With No Brain 4 Thinking has been very busy fighting Cobras on a daily basses.Sometimes 2-3 times a day ! ...;-(
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This morning I left at daybreak heading for the monkey temple. The sound of thunder was quite loud but the sky was semi clear.
So I took off anyway.
Zipping down the main road there was a pickup truck about 60+ feet in front of me traveling at the same speed, about 45-mph.
All of the sudden he slams on his brakes. Locking my arms I too slammed on my brakes. Stuff went flying off to the side in front of the truck as I headed for the shoulder of the road.
Instantly I see a motorcycle with a man still attached to the saddle and his head bouncing on the pavement leaving a blood trail.
FYI--- He was Not Wearing a Helmet !!!
Car brakes were locking up all around us, my first reaction was to dismount and give first aid.
At the same instant the truck that had rear ended the bike started to take off. I had to make a quick decision and make it fast !
Knowing there was plenty of people to help the injured rider and a hospital only minutes away I took off in pursuit of the hit an run truck.
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My little 125cc was wide open, maybe reaching 70+mph. Flying down the road in hopes of getting a photo of his license plate.
The wild man driving the truck was weaving in an out of traffic and gaining distance on me so another decision was made.
I backed off !
It was clear at this point chasing him was a lost cause and now I'm putting not only myself but others is serious jeopardy.
If I had not gone after him I would feel guilty, but at least I gave it some effort. I wish the motorcycle rider well.
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30 minutes later and about 400 meters from the monkey temple I round a curve and spot this little old farmer dragging what I first thought was a pipe covered with mud or something?.
I know him and his friends as most every trip out they are standing by the road an we wave, smile and nod to each other .
It became clear once I was much closer this was no pipe covered with mud.
Dismounted pulled out the D300 and started shooting.
He was so excited the white man that feeds the dogs had stopped to document his new prize.
This is a 4-5 meter python with 2 chickens inside it's belly.
He will skin it and sell the hide for belts, the meat will be eaten and the 2 chickens inside it's belly will be used for fish bait, nothing left unused.
After we had a big laugh and photos were taken we said our good byes & I continued on to feed the temple dogs.
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They were, as usual very excited and hungry, all is well ...;-)
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The End .
Jon & Crew, somewhere in the jungles of Thailand.
Thank you for your comments and donations.
Thank You.
Jon&Crew.
Please help with your donations here.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-abandoned-thai-temple-dogs
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my selection of photos of the beautiful Python Pool, tucked away in the Chichester Ranges, Pilbara, West Australia (taken soon after sunrise). The perfect reflection in the small pool of the two huge rock walls was stunning, creating quite an imposing and timeless image.
Having a nice snooze in the sun.
"Coastal carpet pythons are aptly named, as they occur along most of the east coast of Australia. They are very commonly kept in captivity and have a variety of appearances and sizes.
The Carpet Python diet consists mainly of small mammals, bats, birds and lizards. Carpet Pythons are not venomous. Instead, they kill their prey by constricting (squeezing) it until it suffocates."