As the junior pilot on 14 (Tornado) Squadron at Bruggen who were known as ’the Crusaders’, it was Don Ritch’s job to look after and feed Eric, who lived in a heated glass cabinet by the crew room at the RAF base.
A former junior pilot who was based in Germany in the nineties couldn’t believe his eyes when he came face to face on a chance visit with Eric, a sixteen and a half foot snake at home in Amazonia at M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park.
However, upon meeting him Don was also able to confirm that Eric, whom it was always thought was a Burmese Python, was in fact an Indian Rock Python and at 38 years old, he could be the oldest snake in captivity of this type in the world.Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
“I decided to call into Amazonia one afternoon and see if it was the same Eric and if he was still there. I honestly couldn’t believe it!”
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