14 Year old Ellie Cox from Horseshoe Bay seems to be having a more exciting life than most. Last Christmas she starred as Goldilocks in the highly acclaimed Goldilocks and the Three Bears pantomime under circumstances most thespians would quit over: having her jaw dislocated by an on-stage gorilla. But last week Ellie had another adventure. She was accosted by a very large fat carpet python on her way home from school.

Ellie had taken a short cut from the school bus stop - through a vacant bush block between Horseshoe Bay Road and Corica Crescent in Horseshoe Bay - when she came across the wrap-around reptile. She was upon it before she had realised just what it was and, "It head-butted my thigh but I suppose I gave it a fright too" said Ellie adding, "I jumped and stumbled backwards, slowly stepping away and once far enough I bolted as fast as I could home".

Ellie had never encountered such a large snake and told her dad Bruce Cox who went to investigate. Finding the python near the same spot Bruce told Ellie to dash off and find artist and snake enthusiast Gavin Ryan.

When Gavin arrived he gently lifted the snake - but not without drama. Pythons have large numbers (double rows) of very sharp teeth - though fortunately non-venomous - and at one point the creature, now named "Sybil" (after ex-Monty Python's Basil Faulty's wife) decided she had had enough of humans for one day and promptly attached her jaws to Gavin's arm.

This was very impressive as far as Ellie and the growing crowd of onlookers was concerned. "Gavin was acting so cool like he wasn't in pain at all" Ellie told Magnetic Times laughing. "He was saying (after Sybil let go) 'Look at how you can see the puncture holes from both rows of teeth' while blood dripped from his arm".

By the time Magnetic Times had caught up to Ellie and Gavin, Sybil had calmed down considerably. Gavin had kept Sybil for a couple of nights to show Zoologist and Island snake remover Eric Vanderduys who was keen to check her vital statistics and, in fact, ascertain whether she was not actually a Basil. This done, her length was also measured and Sybil clocked in at 2.5metres with about 10cm diameter at her fattest point.

Although there are many pythons on Magnetic Island, these beautiful and basically harmless (unless handled) reptiles are rarely seen at the size of Sybil. In January 1998 however, Magnetic Times columnist and herpetologist, Simon Fearn discovered a monster 2.83 metre python on Mandalay Avenue in Nelly Bay. It weighed 7.1 kgs. Simon had a theory that the Island was unique in that there were lots of juvenile pythons but very few fully mature adults.

According to Simon Fearn, juvenile carpet pythons feed primarily on reptiles. When they reach a certain age, a biological switch mechanism in their brain is activated which makes them only interested in eating furry mammals. Unfortunately, the Island is home to very few small mammals capable of being preyed upon by carpet pythons for the transition to succeed. This probably accounts for the low recruitment into the adult population. But once they do reach a mature size they have an abundance of foods, namely possums and wallabies.

For readers concerned at Sybil's fate be assured she is now slithering free once more after Eric relocated her in a quiet bush location.

Eric is available for anybody with a snake problem and is willing to come and collect problem snakes 24 hours a day 7 days a week. His phone number is 4758 1972.

As a footnote for visitors to Magnetic Island. Be also assured that although there is a healthy snake population here our snake species are by nature shy and reclusive. There is only one snake to cause concern, the death adder, a snake which is very venomous but also very unlikely to attack unless clearly provoked. Care should be taken during the warm summer months, especially at night when these snakes are sometimes encountered and accidently trodden on. The Island is also well catered for by a first rate clinic where anti-venom can be dispensed. Helicopter evacuation to Townsville Hospital (only minutes away) is also available if required.