A massive boa constrictor spotted slithering around Sydney‘s southern suburbs has finally been captured after days of sightings.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed the red-tailed snake was caught in Sylvania, 22km south of the CBD, on Thursday.
Tyler Gibbons from Shire Snake Wranglers has been credited for capturing the snake, which was first spotted by terrified locals five days ago.
It comes after Sydneysiders were told ‘not to approach’ the reptile, believed to be an escaped pet, and to report any sightings to authorities.
Footage of the snake, believed to be 1.5metres in length, slithering near a bridge in Sylvania went viral after being posted to Facebook on Monday.
On Thursday afternoon, it was spotted not far from the bridge at Sylvania Boat Camp.
Mr Gibbons said he reported the snake to the DPI after seeing the initial Facebook post.
On Friday, he attended the Sylvania boat ramp after receiving a tip-off from a reporter who had spotted the snake in the area.
A giant boa constrictor that sparked panic in Sydney’s south has been captured
The snake was caught five days after it was first sighted in Sylvania in Sydney’s south
‘I headed straight there and found the boa with a bloke who was surprisingly comfortable handling it,’ he wrote in a Facebook post.
‘The snake was safely removed and handed over to the DPI.’
Despite the concerned response from locals, Mr Gibbons said boa constrictors are known to be calm animals.
‘They are very placid, boas… he never tried to bite me or anything like that,’ he told ABC Radio Sydney.
‘They’re beautiful snakes’.
Mr Gibbons said the snake was a juvenile and still had ‘a lot of growing to do’.
More to come.
