These are the 13 snakes dumped in Buzz Lightyear pillowcases and left near Sunderland fire station

Firefighters discovered the snakes which were dumped near a bin in two pillowcases outside the fire station on Thursday, February 13.

The RSPCA had recovered the reptiles but sadly one of the snakes has since died.

An investigation is under way to find the owners who dumped the reptiles and officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Animal collection officer David Dawson, who came to rescue the snakes, said: “When I opened up the pillowcase, there was a bundle of snakes inside. It must have been a very strange discovery for the people who found them.

“They were left in extremely cold conditions. Reptiles like snakes are completely dependent on their owners, who need to provide them with the correct environment, including heating and lighting, so abandoning them like this leaves them very vulnerable.

“It’s quite unusual for someone to have this many pythons and to abandon them in what appears to be a child’s pillowcase.

“We are now appealing for information, if anyone saw anything unusual in Station Road on Thursday evening, or if anyone knows anything about where these snakes may have come from, please contact us on the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.”

One of the snakes has sadly died but the other 12 are receiving care and attention at a vets in Darlington before they are taken to a specialist reptile facility.

Why were the snakes so vulnerable?

Snakes aren’t able to produce their own body heat so they rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature.

As royal pythons originate from West Africa and are not native to this country they would require a heated environment with the correct temperature range for the species in order to stay healthy and carry out normal behaviour.

If snakes become too cold they may not be unable to feed or move normally, and their immune system will not work properly to fight disease, meaning the animal can become very ill.