RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after four royal pythons were found dead in a stream in Denbigh

RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after four royal pythons were found dead in a stream in Denbigh.

The snakes were discovered by a dog walker on Tuesday (5 January) and were found partly submerged in a stream below a footbridge on a public footpath which begins on Grove Road between Denbigh Police Station and Denbigh Magistrates Court.

It is thought they were probably kept as pets and then abandoned.

RSPCA inspector Jenny Anderton said:

“Staff at Denbigh Police Station were alerted by a member of public who discovered four snakes in a nearby stream.

“The RSPCA was called and we recovered the four dead snakes from the location. They were royal pythons of different colours and one of the snakes was inside a clear bag.

“We don’t know what happened here or where these snakes came from, so we are appealing for anyone with information about these snakes to contact the RSPCA Inspectorate Appeal Line on 0300 123 8018. Calls are treated in confidence.”

This is the second incident involving dumped royal pythons in a week. Last week the RSPCA were called in England to pick up 12 royal pythons from outside a veterinary surgery in Plymouth but only one survived.

The RSPCA is experiencing widespread neglect and abandonment of exotic animals across England and Wales and say for many people an exotic animal represents too much of a commitment, this has manifested in the growing number of exotic animals being abandoned and handed to animal centres around the country.

Releasing an exotic reptile into the wild in the UK will cause them to suffer as they cannot produce their own body heat. It is also illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The RSPCA is urging potential owners to thoroughly research what is required in the care of the exotic animal before taking one on, as potential owners need to make sure they can give their animal the environment it needs and they have the facilities, time, financial means and long-term commitment to maintain a good standard of care, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.