Two police officers in northern Queensland, Australia, came across a 16-foot long scrub python during a late night patrolling Sunday. The giant snake blocked their way near a remote town Wujal Wujal, approximately 20 miles north of Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest region.

Unable to control their excitement after spotting the reptile, the officers took a photograph with the crawling creature. They later posted it on the Twitter and also shared it on the Queensland Police Service's (QPS) Facebook page. Their post on social media read: “Boss, we’re going to need a bigger ladder."

The Facebook post has caught the eyes of the social media users. It has received almost 10,000 comments, more than 31, 000 likes and has been shared more than 17,000 times at the time of publishing this story.

Talking to the BBC, the police officers said: “Fair to say that the snake was over five meters long but not really the type of reptile that you want to take a tape to measure.”

According to a report in the Australian, the police confirmed that they waited and did not move their vehicle until they saw that the python was “good and ready to move.”

The officers said: “Seizing the opportunity for a quick photo, Sergeant Ben Tome sent his colleague Acting Senior Constable Chris Kenny out of the car to stand next to the giant.”

“You never really know what you are going to come across in a single shift,” they added.

According to a report in the ABC News Australia, David Walton from Cairns Snake Removals said that it was good that the officers did not try to handle and fiddle with the enormous snake themselves as they are dangerous.

Walton said, “If they decided they were going to touch it or physically interfere with it, then you’re sort of putting yourself in danger.”

“Certainly if you were to attempt to pick it up or grab it or poke it with a stick they can swing around quite quickly and if he grabs hold of you, you’re in all sorts of trouble,” he added.

According to Walton, these snakes were a rare sight for those living in developed areas.

He affirmed: “I’m always impressed when I see a big snake like that. These days we don’t see them getting that big in more of the built-up areas because it’s pretty easy to get sprung when you’re that big. For a snake to be lucky enough to live long enough to get to that size is reasonably rare, because they often get themselves run over or captured or killed.”

According to a description on the official website of the James Cook University, the scrub python which is also known as the amethystine python, is the largest snake found in Australia. It is mostly found in rainforest, but there have been times when they have been seen near buildings. These reptiles feed on mammals and birds and are not really dangerous.

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