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Thursday, 3 January 2008, 07:10 GMT

In pictures: Poorly python

A vet at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary holds up the golf ball-filled carpet python

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A snake in the Australian state of New South Wales has had a lucky escape after a sneaky snack led to emergency stomach surgery.

The golf balls are clearly visible in the stomach of the snake

The golf balls are clearly visible in the stomach of the snake

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The 80-cm (32-inch) carpet python mistook golf balls - left by a couple in their chicken coop to encourage hens to lay - for eggs, and ate four of them.

Four golf balls show clearly on an X-Ray

Four golf balls show clearly on an X-Ray

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The couple took the python to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where vets decided that the snake had no chance of passing the balls.

A vet removes one of the golf balls from the stomach of the snake

A vet removes one of the golf balls from the stomach of the snake

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Vets operated on the snake, making an incision through which the golf balls were successfully removed.

A vet operates on the carpet python (all pics from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary)

A vet operates on the carpet python (all pics from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary)

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Vets say the snake, nicknamed Augusta after the US golf course, is making a full recovery and will be returned to the wild.

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Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
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