A video recorded in the early hours of December 22 on Phan Dang Luu Avenue in Hoa Cuong Ward shows a python more than two metres long slithering across the road. With traffic light at the time, the animal crossed safely before moving onto a pavement and disappearing into a vacant lot.
The reticulated python is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia (Photo: Eric Wachtel)
The footage quickly spread on social media, sparking debate over whether the snake was a pet that had escaped or a wild animal. Some viewers noted its swift and confident movement, suggesting it was likely a wild specimen rather than one accustomed to captivity.
Based on the images, experts identified the animal as a reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus), also known as the Asian reticulated python. The species is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, India and most countries in the region.
The reticulated python seen on the street in Danang City.
In Vietnam, reticulated pythons are found in natural forests from Ha Tinh to Ca Mau, typically inhabiting wetlands, swamps, rivers and lowland forest areas below 1,000 metres. They can also appear near residential areas, posing potential risks to humans.
The reticulated python is listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book, and hunting, trading or keeping the species without official permission is prohibited.
Despite its wide distribution, the species has suffered a sharp population decline in Vietnam due to habitat loss caused by deforestation and land encroachment. Its attractive skin has also made it a frequent target of hunting for the wildlife trade, both for meat and leather.
According to Vietnam’s Red Data Book, wild populations of the reticulated python have declined by more than 80 per cent over the past 40 years, equivalent to around three generations, and the factors driving the decline remain in place.
The species was first listed in the Red Data Book in 1992 and is currently classified as critically endangered in Vietnam.
