Are you saying it is "rare" to find a ball python in the wild?
Sorry to burst your bubble but it happens much more often then you think. These pets are not very rare at all. There are stories in the news all the time of them sneaking in to peoples houses, yards, or cars. There is even a member here who found one behind a coca cola machine and named it Cola!
Also, there are plenty of people who don't have a cell phone that can take pictures or send pictures to a computer, and plenty more without a digital camera. Surprisingly enough, there are also not that many reptile vets around. Especially in rural areas.