Article: Wild and dangerous; This python tried to eat its owner's girlfriend. It's one of thousands of unsuitable pets rescued by the RSPCA last year.

Byline: JAMES CHAPMAN

A WOMAN who tried to feed her boyfriend's 15ft python nearly ended up being its lunch herself.

The snake locked its fangs around the woman's knee as she gave it a pheasant to eat and then wrapped itself around her leg to try to constrict her - its way of killing prey.

The case was highlighted in a report by the RSPCA yesterday which said an increasing number of exotic and dangerous wild animals are being kept as pets by owners who crave their curiosity value.

Many of the creatures are reduced to pathetic wrecks by ignorance and neglect, while others pose a real risk to the public.

In this case, the ...

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