What is the estimated average lifespan for a Ball Python in its native West African habitats?
Answer
10 to 15 years
In the wild environments of West Africa, Ball Pythons face substantial natural challenges that significantly limit their existence. The estimated average lifespan under these difficult conditions hovers between 10 to 15 years. This reduced duration is directly linked to external survival pressures, which include the constant threat of predation from various natural enemies, the difficulty in securing sufficient food due to resource scarcity, and the inherent instability of natural ecosystems. Removing these high-stakes variables, as occurs in captivity, is what allows the species to realize its much longer potential lifespan.

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