Python found with 500 ticks treated for anaemia Published duration 14 January 2019

image copyright CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL image caption The carpet python, nicknamed Nike, is now free of ticks

A snake which had more than 500 ticks removed from its body has been left weak and suffering from anaemia, vets in Australia say.

The snake, nicknamed Nike, was treated by vets for a "nasty infection".

"[This] may have caused his immobility, allowing the ticks to take advantage of him," the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital said in a statement posted online.

image copyright Gold coast and brisbane snake catcher/facebook image caption Vets said they removed 511 ticks from the snake

The wildlife service said it hoped to release the python back into the wild in coming months.

The snake was now with an experienced carer, the hospital said.

"Nike isn't out of the woods yet, but we are hopeful he will make a full recovery," the not-for-profit service said.

Ticks can cause anaemia - a deficiency in red blood cells - by feeding on the blood of a host animal.

Tick-covered koala

The hospital said it had also recently treated a joey koala which was found covered in more than 100 ticks.

image copyright CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL image caption It took vets about two hours to remove the koala's ticks

The marsupial had been separated from its mother when it was rescued, said wildlife group Friends of the Koala.

The group said it believed the marsupial had attracted so many ticks because it was sitting on the ground, a possible sign that it was sick or injured.

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Experts say it is common for animals to attract small numbers of ticks and other parasites.

However, if an animal is weak, the parasites can quickly multiply and overwhelm an animal's immune system.