LEDBURY REPORTER (UK) 18 April 07 Python found in Coneygree Wood (Gary Bills-Geddes)

Police recovered an 8ft long Burmese python from Coneygree Wood, near Ledbury, on Sunday afternoon.

Sergeant Emma Wright and PC Dan Underwood were responding to calls from several members of the public, who had seen the giant snake motionless on the ground while walking in the beauty spot, off the Gloucester Road.

The officers arrived to find the snake was very much alive.

"We were unsure of exactly what sort of snake we were dealing with, so I took a photo of it on my mobile phone and we contacted the West Midlands Safari Park, which pretty quickly confirmed that it was a Burmese python," said Sgt Wright.

Southend vet Derek Stoakes was then called in to help coax the python into a box.

He said: "I was very impressed by the way the officers dealt with the situation, because this was a very large snake, considerably bigger than anything I had seen before.

"The snake was pretty still when I arrived but soon became quite active, because it was a warm day."

The python, predictably named "Monty", is now safe and well at the Vale Wildlife Centre, near Evesham.

An examination indicated the snake had probably fed recently.

Police have not received any reports of missing snakes, and believe Monty was probably abandoned by his owner.

Herefordshire Council's recorder for reptiles, snake expert Nigel Hand, of Albert Road, warned people to think twice before buying a potentially dangerous snake, such as a Burmese python.

He said: "A snake of that size could swallow domestic animals and should never be kept in a house where there are small children.

"The problem is irresponsible people. There is a tendency for people to want to own dangerous animals. They buy such snakes as cute hatchlings, and then they grow and the snakes have to be fed on rabbits and piglets. It is quite a commitment."

His warning was echoed by PC Kevin Le Good, one of Herefordshire Division's wildlife crimes officers.

He said: "Sadly, it seems most likely that Monty was abandoned by the roadside by its owner, who presumably no longer wanted to keep the snake as a pet. Clearly this was a very dangerous thing to do and was done without any thought to either public safety or the welfare of the snake itself.

"People considering buying exotic animals should stop and think whether they are really suitable as pets and whether they are capable of looking after them correctly."

Anyone with information as to who the owner of the snake is should contact Ledbury Police on 08457 444888.



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