Sai Kung villagers horrified as giant python grapples with goat

A group of shocked Sai Kung villagers yesterday fought a fruitless battle to save a goat from the coils of a 3-metre python.

Villager Mr Yau watched in horror in Tseng Lan Shue as the giant snake wrapped itself around the black goat, constricting the animal before trying to swallow it whole just before 10am.

Several men joined the struggle to save the goat which, although eventually separated from the predator, died as a result of the encounter.

Pythons kill their prey by constriction, wrapping a number of coils around the prey's body and applying pressure to prevent it breathing.

Witnesses said the python slipped from the grip of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation Department contractors as villagers looked on.

The reptile was finally captured and is now being held at the department's Animal Management Centre in Sheung Shui. It is expected to be released into the wild soon.

'It is so easy to catch. It looked so scary when I tried to get close,' said snake catcher Lau Ti-pong, who has been in the trade for more than 20 years.