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Posted by W von Papineäu on September 03, 2002 at 09:23:32:
BBC (London, UK) 03 September 02 Boa constrictor found in Devon garden
Animal welfare officers are looking for the owners of a 10-foot long boa constrictor found in a garden in Ilfracombe.
The snake was found hanging from a tree by the owner of the garden on Saturday.
The RSPCA was called in to unwind the snake from the tree's branches.
It was put into a duvet cover and was taken to an animal clinic in Barnstaple, north Devon.
Diana Lewis, the RSPCA animal collection officer who took the snake away, said it would not have survived long in the wild as it needs heat and light.
"Despite being cold and lethargic the snake was strong and heavy and was trying to wrap itself around my arm as I unwound it from the tree," she said.
The RSPCA wants to see boas and other constrictor snakes to be included under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
Inspector Nevin Hunter, the Devon and Cornwall police wildlife liaison officer, said dumping non-indigenous animals could result in a two-year jail sentence.
"It is hard to see how a snake of this size could accidentally escape," he said.
He added: "In August last year an eight-year-old girl was strangled and killed by an 11-foot long python in the United States.
"The snake found at Ilfracombe could potentially have caused the same type of fatality and posed a danger to pets."
THE SCOTSMAN (Edinburgh, UK) 02 September 02 Stray 10 foot Boa Constrictor Found on Garden Tree (Louise Barnett)
Animal welfare officers are seeking the owners of a 10-foot long stray snake found hanging from a garden tree, it emerged today.
The boa constrictor was found by the owner of a property in Ilfracombe, north Devon, on Saturday.
The RSPCA was called to unwind the snake from the tree’s branches.
The reptile was put into a duvet cover so it could be taken to an animal clinic in Barnstaple, north Devon.
RSPCA animal collection officer Diana Lewis said today: “I have dealt with many stray snakes before but was not expecting to see something quite as large as this.
“Despite being cold and lethargic the snake was strong and heavy and was trying to wrap itself around my arm as I unwound it from the tree.
“It would not have survived for long in the wild as it needs constant heat and light.”
Inspector Nevin Hunter, Devon and Cornwall police wildlife liaison officer, said deliberately dumping non-indigenous animals could result in a two years’ jail sentence.
He said: “It is hard to see how a snake of this size could accidentally escape.”
The RSPCA is campaigning for boas and other constrictor snakes to be included under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act so that owners would be licensed.
Mr Hunter said: “In August last year an eight-year-old girl was strangled and killed by an 11-foot-long python in the United States. The snake found at Ilfracombe could potentially have caused the same type of fatality and posed a danger to pets.”
The homeowner who discovered the snake was unavailable for comment this evening.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=5144844
