A teenager from South Africa has developed an unusual yet strong bond with a 10-foot long Burmese long python, a bond that has been sustained for two years.

The teenager, 11th-grader Simone Naidoo, got the python named Theo after falling in love with snakes at 10 years old. She saw the slithery creatures displayed at a window during a grade school fair.

"They were so beautiful that I knew I had to have one," Naidoo told South Africa's the Times. "So I began to save my money to buy a snake."

Naidoo's funds began to add up, with some help from her brother Damian. After some time, she managed to pool together R600.

She also managed to overcome the hurdle of her parents' approval, when they finally conceded and allowed her to buy a snake of her own.

The teenager leaves the snake crawling around in her room, with her completely undeterred while doing her homework. Theo is fed with an average of 14 rats a month.

"I am convinced that we have a bond, so I am not concerned about any possible danger," Naidoo said. "I have read extensively about Burmese pythons and I am very aware of the dangers of having a python as a pet."

The UPI reported that Naidoo's mother Deepa has also forged a bond with Theo, as she helped her daughter oil the snake to keep the skin healthy.

The father, Dave, still remains apprehensive of the reptile's presence in their home.

"At school they call me the snake girl, and I am seen as tough because I have Theo as my pet," Naidoo added. "My friends think I'm a total freak, and for the rest of my family, they think I'm weird, especially my grandfather."

Naidoo plans to buy another snake in the future.