Karura Forest Chief Scout John Chege says the African Rock Python spotted in the forest on Saturday poses no danger.
"My team and I spotted the python on Saturday while doing a patrol, but it doesn't pose any danger to the forest users,'' Chege told Standard Digital.
Photos of the giant snake circulating on social media elicited fear among people who frequent the forest with many vowing never to set foot there again.
However, Chege says the users of the forest should not be afraid because "pythons eat rodents and there are enough rodents in the forest," adding that in the ten years he has been at Karura Forest, he has never witnessed a person being attacked by a python there.
According to Chege, it's rare for pythons which live deep on marshy grounds in the forest, to be spotted by humans.
"Karura Forest has had over two million visitors since it had been opened to the public some ten years ago. In all that time there have been only about four or five sightings of pythons in the forest, so it's a pretty rare occurrence," he said.
He said there was no need to remove the snake from the forest since it was in its natural habitat and they (pythons) help maintain the forest ecosystem.
"The python is in its natural habitat, and there is no need to relocate it. We need to learn to exist with the animals found in the park. They help control the population of animals in the forest, therefore, helps in maintain the ecosystem," he said.
Chege advised users of the forest to abstain from going off track and use only designated zones.??
