WESTERN MAIL (Cardiff, UK) 10 March 06 Cabbie forced to deal with slippery customer
A taxi driver today told of his terror on discovering a surprise passenger in his cab - a four foot long California King Snake.
The serpent was curled up in the boot of a taxi being driven by Anthony Short, 32, in South Wales.
Mr Short was trying to retrieve his coat from the boot during a late evening shift when he found the snake in the folds of the garment.
"I'm petrified of snakes," Mr Short said. "This wasn't a baby snake".
The cabbie was so terrified that colleagues had to remove the coat from the taxi rank in Caerphilly, following the find earlier this week.
Mr Short called the police and the RSPCA was contacted.
It is believed that the snake had been riding around in the taxi for several days.
Mr Short said he picked up some men aged in their late teens around a week ago, "and as they left the taxi at the Piccadilly pub in Caerphilly one of them said: 'I've lost my snake', but I thought he was winding me up."
He said he can laugh about the incident now and joked of his slippery customer: "He's been having a free lift from me for a week."
Although he cleans his cab every day, Mr Short said the taxi has now had an extra thorough going over.
The California King Snake is brown with cream markings, and is not venomous, the RSPCA said.
Animal collection officer, Keith Hogben said: "This is a highly unusual habitat for a snake and we'd like to return the snake to its rightful owner.
"Snakes should never be carried about like this, as it not only distresses them but also members of the public who come into contact with them."
Anyone with information should call the RSPCA helpline on 0870 5555999.
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