Revisiting PRONY, the Giant Python
Right after taking lunch at Bohol Bee Farm, we traveled to the Municipality of Albur to visit Prony, the world's youngest and largest python in captivity.
Upon arrival, I was amazed at how much improvement the place has been. Who would have thought that this simple residential lot has turned to be a tourist spot? They now have a better parking place and upon entrance, you will be welcomed with few women selling mangoes and calamay.
Souvenir shops and an ice cream corner was added too. For only P5/head, one can pay a visit at the Python sanctuary.
Prony shares the cage with few birds including a flying lemur, an eagle, a night heron, and monkey and a turtle as well.
When he gets hungry, he roams around the cage restlessly and usually climbs and curls himself up at the tree. Amazingly, he doesn't eat nor harm the other creatures he shares with at the cage. He only eats what's fed to him. In a month, he's fed with either a "white"pig or at least 2 goats. And mind you, he doesn't eat "virgin" pigs. Why so? That I don't know. Perhaps it does not suite his taste. LOL.
Ate Jing, the caretaker, allowed us to enter the cage and took a picture with Prony. Not everyone has the guts to do so .. But I was glad to be able to conquer my fear! Inside the cage, everytime Prony moves with his tongue out, it kinda scares me. What if he's going to bite or eat me??? Crazy thought..
Ate Jing recalled that Prony was only five feet long when it was captured by her brother-in-, law on Oct. 21, 1996. Prony, now at 13, weighs over 300 kilos, 26 feet long and growing. Imagine that! Prony is indeed one of a kind because normally, a python at the size of Prony weighs 300 kilos upon reaching the age of 40 only.
I do have one comment though-- with regards to the ticket fee they charged us.
Actually, when we arrived at the small road from the highway going to the Python sanctuary, we were asked to stop and pay for a P10 vehicle fee. However, at another stop, we were asked again to pay another vehicle fee at the same price. We started to wonder and asked why. They explained that the first fee was for the municipality and now was for the baranggay. I was actually puzzled, and said "oh okay". Well, at the back of my mind, I told myself perhaps that's their way of making money out of the sanctuary. Although it's just a small amount, I'm hoping it doesn't go to the wrong hands, rather, be used for the betterment of the town's tourism.
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