AssetID: 54670870
Headline: Hiss-teria At The Hospital! Aussie Vets Face Off With 40kg Anaconda During Health Check
Caption: It was a slithery situation down under as Aussie vets came face-to-face with a scaly giant – a 40kg green anaconda called Stench who was in for her annual health check. The whopping snake, who calls the Australian Reptile Park home, popped into Somersby Vet Hospital this week, just as she settles into her swanky new enclosure, and passed her check-up with flying colours. Stretching out at a jaw-dropping 3.5 metres, Stench holds the crown as Australia’s largest green anaconda on display. She’s not just a massive celeb at the Park – she’s also a mum-of-16, after giving birth to a wriggly brood of baby anacondas last year. But getting her into the vet’s office was no walk in the (reptile) park. “Anacondas are incredibly strong, and if we’re not careful, she could easily constrict around us, which can be fatal,” warned brave Head Reptile Keeper Dylan Wallis. “Safety is our top priority for both our staff and Stench.” A team of handlers carefully moved the mega-serpent to the vet’s, where she got the full VIP treatment – eyes, mouth, skin and overall health all inspected. The only thing Stench slithered away with? A couple of minor scrapes – no big deal for a beast of her scale. Because of her massive size, the snake had to be x-rayed in sections due to being too big to fit into a single scan. “She’s in fantastic condition,” said vet Dr Robyn. “It was incredible to see her skull on the scan!” With her health officially given the thumbs-up, Stench slid back home to check out her brand-new pad – a specially designed habitat complete with land and water, just like the wild. “This is a big moment,” said Wallis. “Stench is now the only green anaconda on display underwater in Australia, and she looks right at home in her new surroundings.”
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