INTERNATIONAL NEWS - A python escaped from the house of a government official and is on the loose in the Cambodian capital, a local newspaper reported Monday.

It is the second such serpent to escape from the Phnom Penh home of Nhim Vanda, the first vice chairman of Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, The Cambodia Daily said.

Vanda is the owner of two private zoos; one in Kampot in south-western Cambodia, and another in Prey Veng, east of Phnom Penh.

Vanda said he had obtained the latest python last week and was preparing to take it to one of his zoos. It was last seen on Wednesday making its way onto the branch of a tree and then disappearing down a drain.

A python owned by Vanda escaped from his Kampot zoo a little over two months ago, and was captured only after it slithered 7 kilometres away and devoured two pigs, the newspaper reported.
      
Source : Sapa