A massive 17-foot-long python was caught after clogging a family's drainage pipe in Thailand.

The huge beast was discovered by villager Mongkol Sianglert stuck inside the concrete pipe at his home in Trang province on November 29.

The serpent had tried to crawl through the drain, but became lodged due to its massive girth.

As the animal was completely trapped and had curled up in the pipe, Mongkol called volunteers to save it.

The rescuers dug up the soil to make more space. However, they still had to smash the pipe open before they could pull the python out.

The team said it measured around 17 feet long and weighed about 30 kilograms. It was later freed into the wild away from the village.

Mongkol said: 'I saw the python at the mouth of the drain when it had not yet crawled inside. I called my family to take a look at it, but I think the snake panicked when everyone came out, so it slipped inside and became stuck.'

Chokchai Phrae Thanarueang of the Southern Society of Toxicology said: 'Pythons are protected under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of Thailand.

'If anyone kills or trades these animals, they may face fines of not more than 1 million baht, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

'No matter what kind of snake you see, you should call experts and wait for them to arrive. Don't try to hit, kill, or catch them, especially if you are inexperienced.'

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.