Unusual Python Scare at The Rail Mall’s Toast Box Following Ceiling Collapse
Imagine, if you will, not just a rat dropping into your bowl of noodles, but now, potentially, a python.
*shivers*
On the morning of 9 Dec, what started as a beautiful Saturday morning at Toast Box in The Rail Mall quickly turned into a horrendous ordeal for some of its customers.
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Without warning, pieces of the ceiling came crashing down, revealing a long, sinuous object nestled within.
This object bore striking patterns, closely resembling those of a reticulated python.
Nasty.
In response, someone promptly alerted the National Parks Board.
However, when the relevant personnel arrived, there was no python to be found. This led to speculation that the python might have already made its escape.
A netizen detailed this bizarre occurrence on the Facebook group “Complaint Singapore”.
The social media post highlighted that the large hole in the ceiling revealed what looked like a python, leading to the staff temporarily shutting down the establishment.
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Pythons, known for being some of the largest snakes in the world, are massive, non-venomous reptiles.
Their size can range from a mere 58 cm to a staggering 10 m in length, and they can weigh anywhere from 198 g to 113 kg.
From the available images, it seemed that the hidden creature was considerably large (assuming it was indeed a python), making the patrons lucky that it didn’t fall through the ceiling.
The Toast Box staff, when approached for comments by Lianhe Zaobao, were understandably reticent about the “python incident.”
Meanwhile, the shop quickly went about repairing the gaping hole in the ceiling with a plain white board.
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Nuwa, a staff member from the adjacent clinic (her name transliterated from Chinese), mentioned her uncertainty about the specifics of the incident.
She recalled how management personnel, around 10 AM on Sunday, had advised them to keep the rear windows firmly shut, according to Lianhe Zaobao.
Given The Rail Mall’s proximity to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Fuyong Interim Park, it’s plausible that a variety of wild animals, including pythons, are in the area.
Hou Junming, the Director of Wildlife Management and Outreach at the National Parks Board, responded to inquiries from Lianhe Zaobao.
He confirmed that they had received reports of a reticulated python (Malayopython Reticulatus) at the shop, but found no trace upon arrival.
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This begs the question: was there ever a python there?
Hou also mentioned that reticulated pythons are native to the region and can sometimes be found in urban areas.
They are crucial for maintaining the ecosystem’s balance, notably in controlling rodent and pest populations.
It’s not unheard of in Singapore for stray or even pet cats to fall victim to hungry pythons.
The AVS and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) note that it’s not particularly rare for stray or domesticated cats to become prey to these large snakes.
In the event of encountering a snake in public areas, the public is advised to maintain a safe distance, remain calm, and retreat slowly to allow the snake space to leave.
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Approaching or attempting to handle the snake, especially in natural environments, is strongly discouraged.
After the incident, Toast Box, in response to Lianhe Zaobao, confirmed that during the incident, all customers were safely evacuated, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Following the incident, the store closed for approximately an hour and a half.
Professional personnel were summoned to deal with the potential python presence.
They arrived at around 9:20 am, conducting a thorough search of the ceiling, dining area, and kitchen, yet no python was found.
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Considering The Rail Mall’s interconnected ceiling structure with adjacent shops, it’s conceivable that the python, if it was there, could have escaped to a different location.
The spokesperson also mentioned that a professional team was hired to mend the ceiling and that the staff thoroughly disinfected all areas of the store. After a complete clean-up, the store reopened its doors at 10:30 am that same day.
Fortunately, though a python may bite when threatened, such an encounter is not typically dangerous to humans.
Pythons, lacking venom, generally pose no lethal threat.
The primary risks associated with pythons include potential bites from their sharp teeth and the danger of constriction.
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