Late last week, Tony Harrison of Gold Coast Snake Catcher on Australia’s east coast published an amazing video on Facebook of a call he had to retrieve a carpet python from a customer’s pool in Coolangatta.

Image/Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher Facebook page
Image/Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher Facebook page

Amazed by what he found, Harrison said, “I’ve done this for 26 years and this is the worst I’ve ever seen.”

The snake, now known as “Nike” had some 511 ticks on him, many totally engorged.

So what is Nike’s status now?

Tony took the python to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation, a place that treats and rehabilitates animals. 

The good folks at the wildlife hospital posted the following on Facebook:

Image/Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher Facebook page
Image/ Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Facebook page

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation

“Thank you for all your well wishes regarding Nike the ‘tick python’, who made international news. Nike was saved from a certain death by Tony and Brooke from Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher after being found in a swimming pool covered in ticks.

“Our hospital staff removed 511 ticks from Nike, which left him very unwell with anaemia. Nike also has a nasty infection which may have caused his immobility, allowing the ticks to take advantage of him.

“Nike isn’t out of the woods yet, but we are hopeful he will make a full recovery and be released back into the wild in the coming months. He is now in the hands of an experienced carer from Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers.”