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Python tries to eat zoo owner in Germany

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-07 10:44

A zoo owner in Germany was rescued by colleagues after a 12 foot long python began eating her head.

Renate Klosse became the prey for the 24-year-old python called Antonia while inspecting the reptile zoo that she runs at Uhldingen near Stuttgart.

The nine-stone snake with 70 sharp teeth attacked her as she cleaned out her cage at the weekend.

"The jaws of the snake opened so wide that, with one lunge, she was able to completely cover the woman's face," said a police spokesman.

"She feared that with a few more gulps her head would be inside."

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Renate instinctively stuck her thumbs into the jawbone of the snake to try to get it to relieve its pressure.

Colleagues at the zoo then picked up hoses and sprayed water on to it. The python finally slithered off and the drama was over.

Jan Knoll, a python expert from Hamburg, said: "Pressure on the jaw would have given the reptile pain. The water would have made it lose its sense of smell and disorient it."

Miss Klosse was taken to hospital where she received treatment for bites and shock.

Antonia the python had to settle for a supper of live white rats instead of her owner.