Abandoned pythons prompt call for tighter rules

The owner of a wildlife rescue centre is calling for exotic pet ownership rules to be tightened after a number of large snakes were abandoned.

Four reticulated pythons, which are non-venomous and can grow up to 18ft-long, were captured in the Twigmoor and Cleatham areas of North Lincolnshire at the weekend.

Jamie Mintram, owner of the Ark Wildlife Park, near Boston, said there were "far too many examples" of this happening.

He is calling for large-breed snakes to be covered by the same type of licensing rules as animals such as wild cats, primates and crocodilians.

Mr Mintram said despite many pet shops limiting the sale of large non-venomous snakes to experienced people, it was easy for someone with little or no knowledge to legally purchase them online.

Introducing a similar scheme to animals covered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act would help to limit this, he said.

As well as legislation, Mr Mintram said potential owners needed to carry out their own research to educate themselves.

"What happens quite often is people buy them when they are only tiny - the length of a school ruler - and within a few years they can get incredibly large and outgrow their homes," he said.

"People don't realise quite how big these snakes can get.

"It's not the snake's fault - they are just doing what nature made them to do," he added."

Mr Mintram told BBC Radio Lincolnshire it was also "irresponsible and cruel" to abandon any reptile, adding: "Something like a reticulated python is not going to survive the typical UK weather."

He said it was sometimes the case that people were too embarrassed to seek professional help - but said this was the right thing to do.

Humberside Police is investigating the incident in North Lincolnshire and the snakes are currently being cared for by RSG Reptiles, based near Alford.

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