Scotland’s SPCA mistakes harmless snake for green mamba, then kills it
- 7 years ago
DRUMOAK, SCOTLAND — The Scottish Society for the Protection and Care of Animals is taking heat after it froze a harmless green snake to death in a case of mistaken identity.
The snake was found on a cargo ship that had returned from West Africa on Nov. 9.
Scottish SPCA workers were called in and captured the reptile, which they thought was a venomous green mamba. They moved the snake to their rehoming center in Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire’s the Press and Journal reported.
But the closest anti-venom for a green mamba was in Bedford — eight hours away by car. And workers could not find a reptile specialist who could take in the snake. So, due to “severe health and safety concerns,” the Scottish SPCA workers decided it had to be euthanized, in a freezer.
After the poor thing died a horrible death did they realize it was a harmless green tree snake. It was not venomous and did not even have fangs.
PETA then criticized the SSPCA for the blunder, with director Elisa Allan saying: “If a snake must be euthanized — which means given a ‘good death’ — the animal shouldn’t be frozen to death.”
Allan also said ‘’major veterinary bodies, including the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, said freezing was unacceptable. The formation of ice crystals on a snake’s skin can cause acute pain.’’
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said it had been an “innocent mistake.” He said the charity “genuinely believed” it was a green mamba.
The snake was found on a cargo ship that had returned from West Africa on Nov. 9.
Scottish SPCA workers were called in and captured the reptile, which they thought was a venomous green mamba. They moved the snake to their rehoming center in Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire’s the Press and Journal reported.
But the closest anti-venom for a green mamba was in Bedford — eight hours away by car. And workers could not find a reptile specialist who could take in the snake. So, due to “severe health and safety concerns,” the Scottish SPCA workers decided it had to be euthanized, in a freezer.
After the poor thing died a horrible death did they realize it was a harmless green tree snake. It was not venomous and did not even have fangs.
PETA then criticized the SSPCA for the blunder, with director Elisa Allan saying: “If a snake must be euthanized — which means given a ‘good death’ — the animal shouldn’t be frozen to death.”
Allan also said ‘’major veterinary bodies, including the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, said freezing was unacceptable. The formation of ice crystals on a snake’s skin can cause acute pain.’’
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said it had been an “innocent mistake.” He said the charity “genuinely believed” it was a green mamba.