Four-Foot Boa Found With Broken Jaw In Newport

RSPCA Cymru is trying to track down the owner of an injured boa constrictor found in Newport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The four-foot long boa was discovered on Sunday (September 18) and the RSPCA were called to the rescue. The reptile had been found in an open shed which was down an alley off Bassaleg Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA animal collection officer Stephanie Davidson, who picked up the snake and took him to a veterinary surgery, said: “The snake wasn’t moving when I arrived, but that was mostly likely down to the fact that he was really cold. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I immediately took him to an independent vet and it was found that he had a broken jaw and a puncture wound, but is in a good condition otherwise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“He is now receiving treatment and it is hoped that his injury will heal. He has become more lively since he’s warmed up. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The snake is most probably an escapee and has been attacked by another animal. We hope we can reunite him with his owner who could be frantically looking for him. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If anyone has any information about this snake, please call us on the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018. Calls are treated in confidence.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Snakes are ectothermic, which means that they cannot produce their own body heat. If they escape it can be disastrous for them as their body processes cannot function normally outside of the correct temperature range. It is important to make sure all pet snakes are securely housed as they are adept escape artists. If owners are tempted to let their snakes outside in the warm sunny weather, it’s important to remember snakes can move a lot faster than usual when warm and so they’ll need to be watched carefully. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​