12-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) An unusual and somewhat hair-raising incident unfolded as a reticulated python made a surprise appearance at Tuas Checkpoint, stealthily creeping into an unsuspecting commuter’s car.
The entire spectacle was caught on video and later shared by a vigilant Mothership reader, who happened to be in a vehicle trailing behind during this extraordinary episode.
According to the eyewitness, he was peacefully seated in his own car when he noticed the snake’s sinuous movement as it glided across the ground and approached a black car some distance ahead.
In the original footage, the reader’s mother could be heard exclaiming in surprise, “Aiyoh! Cannot leh, must tell [the driver] leh.” Meanwhile, the reader’s father astutely commented, “It’s going inside the car already,” as the snake seemingly made its way into the vehicle.
Promptly, the reader and his mother disembarked from their car and hastened over to the other vehicle to inform its driver, a gentleman who appeared to be in his 40s.
Remarkably, the driver remained composed and seemingly unflustered upon learning about the python’s presence. While he did pause momentarily with his car, he did not seem to exit the vehicle to assess the situation or request assistance. Instead, he “took off after chopping his passport,” as recounted by the reader.
As a result, the driver continued his journey from Singapore Customs to Malaysia, now with an unexpected reptilian co-traveler on board.
When approached for comments, neither Acres nor the National Parks Board had received any reports regarding this peculiar incident, as per Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan, co-chief executive officer of Acres, who also confirmed that the snake in question was indeed a reticulated python.
Reticulated pythons are a native snake species capable of growing to lengths exceeding nine meters. These non-venomous constrictors are often sighted in urban areas and are generally reserved, typically only resorting to aggression when provoked or disturbed.
