Snake spotted on the loose in Sunderland park - here's what to do if you see it
“It was a dark green colour, similar to the grass, and was about 50cm to 60cm long”
Animal rescue charity Richmond Exotics are urging people to contact them rather than casing a potential injury after reports of a snake on the loose in a Sunderland park.
Abdel Malik, 35, said he encountered the snake in Diamond Hall Pocket Park in the Millfied area of the city whilst walking back from Aldi this morning (August 4).
Abdel, who lives in Millfield, said: “It was 9am and I had just been shopping with my wife and we were walking home when we saw the snake slithering across the grass. It was a dark green colour, similar to the grass, and was about 50cm to 60cm long.”
Originally from Ghana, Abdel is no stranger to snakes, but was still shocked by his early morning encounter.
He said: “I would regularly see snakes in Ghana, many of which were venomous, but I didn’t expect to see one here is Sunderland. I never expected to see one here and when we saw it, we just panicked and ran away.
“I think it’s probably a pet which has escaped.”
Abdel contacted the Echo and we put him in touch with Richmond Exotics, an animal rescue charity based at Clays Garden Centre in Washington. The charity specialises in the rescue of exotic animals.
Co-founder Chris Richmond has been to the park and as yet has been unable to locate the snake.
However, wife and founder Becky Richmond is concerned for the welfare of the snake and has urged people not to hurt it and to contact the charity.
She said: “It doesn’t sound like any of the snakes we get here in the UK and I certainly wouldn’t expect to see one of these snakes in a city park. It’s most likely to be an escaped pet, although we do get people deliberately releasing animals into the wild if they are struggling to cope.
“If anyone sees the snake, please don’t hurt it. Get in touch with us and we can come and rescue the snake and look to find a new home. If you can provide a photograph and exact location then that is really useful.”
You can contact Richmond Exotics by calling 07776426940.
The UK is home to three indigenous species of snake; grass snakes, smooth snakes, and the British Isles only venomous snake, the adder.