Complaint leads to discovery of an illegal pet that grew way too big

Acting on a complaint, a police officer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation went to a house to investigate someone who was believed to be in possession of wildlife as a pet.

Sure enough, when officer Jeff Hull responded to the house he discovered a 13-foot, 2-inch albino Burmese python caged in a tank no bigger than 5-feet long.

“The subject admitted to ECO Hull that he was not prepared for how fast the animal would grow and that he recognized he could no longer care for it,” the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation wrote on Facebook.

Hull confiscated the python and issued the man tickets for possession of wildlife as a pet and for possessing dangerous wildlife without a permit.

Hull called the Woodhaven Wildlife Center, asking if it might have a large tote to transport the creature.

“I said, ‘Well come over and see if we have anything you can use,’” the Woodhaven Wildlife Center stated on Facebook. “So this is what we’re greeted with!!!! Now I love snakes but I have never seen one this size. I was speechless, and we all know I’m never that!”

The next day, the python was transported to the Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo, which has a permit that allowed it to keep the snake and put it on display.

“We lovingly named this beautiful lady ‘Mango,’” the Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo stated on Facebook. “Mango, an illegally owned pet, was surrendered to the DEC willingly. The owner was a little overwhelmed by how quickly she grew! We were surprised as well, but we are ready for the challenge of maintaining this awesome creature! Already plans are in the works to enlarge her habitat so that it will suit her growing needs.”

Photos courtesy of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Woodhaven Wildlife Center.