17ft python caught lurking near Thailand resident’s house

A 17ft reticulated python was found lurking near a villager's house in southern Thailand on 11 August.

The huge reptile was spotted by terrified resident Tum, 59, while she was checking her palm trees in Krabi province on August 11.

Tum said she heard a strange noise and walked over only to find the python thrashing on the ground due to being stuck in a fishing net.

Animal welfare volunteers cut the net loose while holding the snake's head down with a pole before releasing it away from nearby homes.

"It was so big. I'll never be able to forget its size," Tum said.