Cambodians flock to see ‘lucky’ snake

Deutsche Presse Agence / iol News | May 15 2014

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Associated Press

Stock image: Dev Khalsa

Phnom Penh -

A nesting python in Cambodia has been drawing crowds after a man reportedly received winning lottery numbers from it, media reported on Thursday. 

Villagers have been flocking to a sports centre in the central province of Kampong Cham, leading the centre's owner to ask police to take the python into protective custody amid fears the valuable and popular reptile will be stolen, the Phnom Penh Post reported. 

The snake was found on the sports centre grounds earlier this week, guarding 23 unhatched eggs. 

“The python became magic,” said Chan Thea of Roka Thome village. “I prayed to it and then I won the lottery draw” after the snake transmitted the numbers to him, he was quoted as saying by the Post. “It is unbelievable,” he said. 

“We cannot stop the residents believing it,” village chief Heng Sun Lai was quoted as saying. 

“They believe that it makes them win the lottery draw after they pray for luck and happiness.” 

Snakes feature prominently in mythology and are often credited with supernatural powers in Cambodia.