Tree snake killed after being mistaken for deadly cousin
The Scottish SPCA's apologised after it emerged a "deadly" green snake that arrived in Aberdeen Harbour was wrongfully killed.
The Scottish SPCA's apologised after it emerged a "deadly" green snake that arrived in Aberdeen Harbour was wrongfully killed.
Animal welfare officers were called to a ship docking from Africa - believing the reptile was a green mamba, whose bite can kill in less than an hour.
They put the snake in a freezer, where it died.
But it's now turned out it was a harmless green tree snake.
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, “We were called out after a green snake arrived in Aberdeen on a boat from Africa.
“The snake was thought to be a green mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. The snake was taken by police escort to our Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue & Rehoming Centre.
“Sadly the snake, which staff genuinely believed to be a green mamba, had to be put to sleep after our attempts to rehome it to specialist reptile keepers were unsuccessful.
“We could not keep the snake in our centre due to severe health and safety concerns, as the closest anti-venom is held in Bedford. Green mambas also require a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence which the Society does not have.
“The safety of our staff and the public is paramount and as such the snake was placed in a freezer where it passed away. Recent guidance issued in the past month on euthanising animals suggests that placing a reptile in a freezer is not the preferred method. However, in this instance freezing was considered the only safe option as any other method would have posed a significant risk to our staff.
“The decision to euthanise the snake was not taken lightly. Unfortunately the snake has since been identified as a harmless green tree snake. This has been an honest mistake on the Society’s part as we genuinely believed this was an extremely deadly snake.
“Our centres took in 265 reptiles last year including snakes, terrapins and lizards, a 74% increase in the number we've rescued over the last five years. Reptiles are cared for by our dedicated centre staff until we can find them a new home with someone who has the time, resources and dedication to give them a fresh start.
“The Scottish SPCA is proud of its policy not put healthy animals to sleep. Animals are only put to sleep on veterinary advice if they are too ill or too aggressive to be rehomed, or where we are legally required to do so."