Exotic snake in driveway

Jim Mynard
THE Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is calling for information about why a boa constrictor was found sunning itself in a Berwick driveway last weekend.
Boa constrictors are illegal in Australia.
A resident of Insignia Crescent, Berwick was reversing his car out of the driveway when he heard a scraping noise.
He found the problem to be a twometre boa constrictor wedged under the wheel and so a licensed snake catcher was called.
DSE officers have conducted an investigation into who owned the snake, but need more information.
DSE senior investigator Keith Larner said this was the fourth boa constrictor found at large in Melbourne during the past two years.
“This is alarming, and raises serious concerns about how many boas are being held in illegal collections.”
Mr Larner said wildlife licences were issued for keeping of native snakes only, but boa constrictors, native to Central and South America, were the most commonly held exotic snake.
He said they posed a “significant threat to our biodiversity”.
“They can spread potentially devastating diseases to native pythons,” he said. “However, some people don’t get this message and are happy to put our biodiversity at risk so they can have an exotic pet.
“We want people to understand that while a boa constrictor might cost them just $600, they need to consider how they’ll cope with a fine of up to $110,000 or two years in jail for the offence.”
Anyone with information on the boa constrictor or any other exotic reptiles can call the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186. The DSE said information would be treated in the strictest confidence.
A DSE spokesperson said that because of the disease risk to native pythons the boa would have to be put down.