Yellow spotted monitor causes mayhem at Hervey Bay cafe

A quirky video of a reptile running around a Queensland cafe has gone viral, but a snake catcher has revealed the sad truth behind the encounter.

A quirky encounter with a rare reptile at a cafe has highlighted the tragic truth about their shrinking environment.

Drew Godfrey from Hervey Bay Snake Catchers was called out to a medical complex at Urraween where a yellow spotted monitor was causing a bit of havoc among patrons at a cafe.

Mr Godfrey can be seen capturing the elusive reptile inside the cafe after a short chase.

While the video caused some amusement on social media, Mr Godfrey said there was a serious side to the encounter.

“In reality, no one was in danger and there’s development in its habitat so it’s just an innocent animal that humans have displaced and it is desperate to find food and somewhere to live,” he said.

Yellow spotted monitors are listed as vulnerable species.

Drew Godfrey from Hervey Bay Snake Catchers was called out to a medical complex at Urraween where a yellow spotted monitor was causing a bit of havoc among patrons at a cafe.

As well as a shrinking habitat, the reptiles’ numbers are being affected by cane toads, which poison the monitors when eaten.

Last week, Matthew Hampton from Snake Identification Australia told the Fraser Coast Chronicle of the challenges being faced by all reptiles as their environments continue to get developed.

Snake sightings have become more common due to loss of habitat and breeding seasons, Mr Hampton said, adding the actual snake population had actually decreased in Australia.

Most young snakes were picked off by predators, run over by cars or killed by people and pets, he explained.

Land-clearing and tree removals push snakes out of their habitats and subsequently, these animals encounter people and pets more than ever.

The reptiles are pushed into tighter areas and slither through backyards as they try to return to bushland.

“Snakes are running out of places to live,” Mr Hampton said.

“That’s why it’s important to save what you got left.”