When a tiny woylie, fitted with its very own GPS tracking device, was eaten by a carpet python at a nature reserve south of Perth, panicked wildlife officers took the bugling python to Department of Environment and Conservation for monitoring as they were well aware that by swallowing the tracking device the python was likely to die. Left for only two days, the python was stolen. What the thieves failed to realise was the GPS tracking device was still inside the reptile. The GPS gadget was similar to the type of vehicle tracking systems that can be found in many cars.
The angry department went on to track the woylie’s radio signal. By using an aeroplane they were able to lead the officers on the ground, to a house in Heathridge in Perth’s northern suburbs. All of the officers and scientists involved were impressed at how accurate the data reading was pointing them within 60m of where the stolen python was finally found.
Once they had established exactly where the reptile was being held, the police were called to attend the scene. Police are now charging a 30 year old man from Heathridge with receiving stolen goods.
Scientists have confirmed that the stolen reptile could have sold for up to $2000 on a legitimate market but much, much more on the black market. Should the python not have eaten the unfortunate woylie, then this large reptile would have nit been tracked and found and could have ended up the same way as the woylie.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.