EXPRESS & ECHO (Exeter, UK) 04 April 08 Snake 'Still Alive' When Set On Fire In Horrific Attack (Mike Byrne)
These are the grim remains of a 4ft long boa constrictor that was tortured and burnt to death by youths at an Exeter play park.
Experts say the snake was still alive when its head and tail were set alight.
The reptile was found coiled around bars at the Flowerpot play area in St Thomas by a young mother and her eight-year-old son.
The RSPCA in Exeter is urging anyone who knows who was responsible for the horror to contact it on a confidential hotline.
Jo Barr, RSPCA spokes- woman in Exeter, said: "This is a truly horrendous incident.
"We have collected the body of the snake, which we believe is a boa constrictor, from a local vet.
"It would appear that it was alive when set alight as it had coiled itself around the bars. There was no burning to the middle of the snake. Its head and tail had been set alight.
"It is difficult to know if the snake had been dumped by an owner or it was taken to the play area.
"Sadly, we see quite a lot of incidents with exotic animals, particularly snakes, being dumped when people lose interest in them because of the amount of work that has to go into keeping them.
"However, the number of juveniles prosecuted for animal cruelty is quite low compared to adults.
"We would urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to contact our special Cruelty and Information Line on 03001 234999."
The snake's charred remains were found by Claire Hickman, of Clayton Road, St Thomas, Exeter, who was walking past with son Tyler, a pupil at Montgomery School.
Claire said: "It was awful, a terrible thing to see, and I felt sick to think that an animal could have been put through such a harrowing ordeal.
"I know teenagers were seen here the previous evening burning something," she added.
A police spokeswoman said officers were now investigating the incident.
A spokesman for Exeter City Council said: "Our parks department dealt with it and notified the police.
"The corpse was sent to a vet, to look at the cause of death."
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136993&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231418&home=yes&more_nodeId1=137002&contentPK=20312661
