Dead 6ft snake by River Dee baffles conservation workers

The discovery of the remains of a snake, believed to be a python, have baffled staff at a conservation charity.

The 2m (6.5ft) snake carcass was found on the banks of the River Dee near Bala in Gwynedd.

It was entwined on a fallen tree trunk, possibly after being brought downstream by the swollen waters.

"It's not something we would expect to see on the river," said Chris Meredith from the Welsh Dee Trust.

The Llangollen-based charity works to restore habitats on the brooks, streams and rivers of the River Dee catchment and is more used to saving Atlantic salmon than finding tropical reptiles.

"It may have been dead for a couple of weeks," Mr Meredith said.

He suggested the snake might have spent winter in a hole in the ground before being caught out by the rising level of the River Dee after heavy rain.

"They can swim, but if the river came up and the snake is still cold and sluggish it would probably get caught out and drown," he said.

Mr Meredith said he believed the snake was a reticulated python, which is fairly common to be kept as a pet.

"I think it's probably escaped or been released at some point," he said.

Reticulated pythons are native to South East Asia and as a species can grow longer than any other snake, reaching up to 6m (19.6ft).

Although not venomous, they kill their prey by constriction.

Mr Meredith said the discovery would probably remain a mystery.

"It really isn't something we would expect to find on one of our restoration projects," he added.