Huge 10ft snake retrieved from tree in England

A motorcyclist was driving down a quiet country lane in Conington, near Sawtry, on Friday afternoon (August 27) when he saw the large reptile slithering across the road in front of him.

He initially called the police, who then contacted the RSPCA for help.

RSPCA Inspector Justin Stubbs went to the scene, when he arrived he saw the snake had climbed up and into a nearby tree for safety.

Justin said: “I really could not believe it when I got there and saw this huge snake all the way up in the tree - it was a scene a bit reminiscent of the Jungle Book!

“When I saw the snake so high up in the branches I knew it was going to be tricky to get him down due to the height the snake had climbed to, difficulty gaining access to him, and the need for more people given the size of the snake. I contacted Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and they kindly came out to help me.”

Together the team removed some branches of the tree until they could have clear access to the branch the snake was on. They then cut the branch the snake was on so it gently fell into a tarpaulin held by Justin and firefighters beneath.

Justin said: “We then carefully gathered the snake up into a duvet cover and took him straight to a local specialist for health checks and boarding until the owner can be traced.

“The snake is about 10-foot long and a reticulated python. We think he or she may have been loose for some time as they were cold and a little underweight.”

Justin said: “I’ve rescued hundreds of animals from trees over my 25 years with the RSPCA, cats, birds, foxes, and I’ve been called to many snakes, but I wasn’t expecting to see this stunning animal wrapped high up around tree branches in the English countryside!”

Justin added: “Unfortunately, this sort of thing isn’t unusual and we receive thousands of calls a year relating to reptiles, like snakes and lizards, who have either escaped or many of which have been abandoned by their owners.”