In the story, Edoardo claims that Dorato might try to assess Camilla’ssize by lying down next to her and surrounding her body.
He also explains to her that a large python is an animal capable of seizing and compressing prey using its powerful muscles.
Camilla was deeply troubled by this interpretation. Gestures she had considered signs of affection suddenly took on a disturbing meaning in her friend’s words.
An important distinction between narrative and animal behavior
However, it is important to distinguish the explanation given by Edoardo in this story from established knowledge about snakes.
The fact that a python refuses to eat or lies down near a person does not, in itself, allow us to conclude that it is preparing an attack or seeking to measure future prey.
These behaviors do not, therefore, constitute proof of predatory intent. However, the power and size of a large constrictor snake justify serious precautions, regardless of its past behavior.
For Camilla, the essential
message remained the same: seven years of cohabitation without incident were not enough to guarantee absolute security.
A difficult decision to protect everyone
Shaken by the conversation, Camilla decided to follow her friend’s recommendations.
She left the room slowly, without making any sudden movements, then locked the door from the outside so that Dorato could no longer move freely around the house during the night.
This decision was particularly difficult for her. The python had been a part of her life since her sixteenth birthday. She had watched it grow and had devoted daily attention to it for almost seven years.
However, faced with the concerns expressed by Edoardo, she understood that she had to review the conditions of their cohabitation.
Dorato’s transfer to a specialized center
The following morning, Edoardo intervened with a team specializing in the care of exotic animals.
Dorato was recovered safe andsound, then transferred to an approved wildlife rehabilitation center.
In this new environment, the large python could benefit from facilities adapted to its size, including spacious, heated and secure enclosures.
