Giant boa constrictor on the loose in Sydney
A Sydney snake catcher is blaming a boozey NRL Grand Final party for releasing a dangerous boa constrictor into the wild.
NSW
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It’s news that strikes terror in the hearts of most of us. A giant two-and-a-half-metre long boa constrictor is slithering through Sydney’s western suburbs.
Authorities spotted a massive snake skin on timber scaffolding in Silverdale last Wednesday, sparking fears that an adult boa constrictor is “at large.”
The NSW Government on Friday sent a letter to residents in the area warning that the snake is on the loose “in or around” the Cascades Estate in Silverdale.
Australian Snake Catchers’ Sean Cade received the call to find the snake on Saturday but after searching the area couldn’t find it.
“This thing could be in the next suburb by now,” he said. “It could have travelled kilometres since it shed its skin.”
The snakes are native to Central America and have been introduced to Australia and are prohibited in NSW outside of zoos.
Boa constrictors are not venomous but they bite and strangle their prey making them a “serious threat” to humans and wildlife.
Mr Cade said the 2.5m boa constrictor used the under construction house frame as leverage to peel off its skin.
“After shedding its skin it would probably have been on the lookout for a feed and then it would sit for a few days before looking for more prey,” he said.
“It is a high danger to pets, obviously small children and potentially the native wildlife.”
The snake catcher of 20 years said the illegal pet would have escaped on the NRL Grand Final Weekend.
“It probably happened during the Grand Final Weekend when someone was showing off to their mates, they have had a few beers and they don’t close the enclosure properly,” he said.
Snakes in the City catcher Harley Jones said it was quite common to find large exotic snakes in Sydney.
“We do get a number of large imported snakes here in Sydney. Either Burmese pythons or red tail boa constrictors,” he said.
“They are not too difficult to catch, if they get any larger than four metres you should use two people as they’re quite heavy.”
“I don’t think the one on the loose would be much larger than three metres. If it was I’d be very surprised.”
Warragamba deputy mayor Matt Gould said he’s spoken to the woman who found the snake skin last Wednesday and she was shocked by the discovery.
“It is quite worrying, council is working with DPI and land services to alert everyone to the animal,” he said.
“The advice from experts are that these snakes can be quite dangerous. If anyone spots it they can alert DPI or a snake catcher, or call triple zero and ask for the firefighters to remove it.”
The government is in the process of trying to find and capture the reptile and is calling all snake-spotting residents to keep their eyes peeled and report any sightings.
But residents are being warned not to get too close to the reptile.
“Observe and, if possible, photograph the animal. If it is moving try and watch where it goes. Do not make contact with the animal,” the government has warned.
Residents are being asked to report any sightings to the NSW Department of Primary Industries.