A large boa constrictor has been caught after it was found slithering beside the River Thames in south-west London.
The snake, which was about 5ft (1.5m) long, was captured by the RSCPA on Sunday after being spotted near Barnes Bridge in Chiswick.
The reptile was picked up by animal officer Jade Guthrie, who confirmed it was relatively healthy and is now being cared for by the charity.
Its size suggests it had recently been abandoned, rather than it being a stray.
Last year, the RSPCA said it had rescued more than 4,000 exotic pets including monkeys, bearded dragons and even a wallaby in England and Wales over a 12-month period.
The charity issued a warning to inexperienced owners to carry out proper research after taking more than 15,000 calls about exotic animals in 2018.
Lizards, parrots, birds of prey, scorpions, meerkats and salamanders were all rescued by its officers after being neglected by owners.
Vet Stephanie Jayson, the RSPCA’s senior scientific officer in exotics, said: “Reptiles and other exotic pets are completely reliant on their owners to meet their welfare needs including requiring the correct levels of heat, light and humidity, plus an appropriate diet.
“Some species can grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold.
“Many of the animals we’re called to help are found stray outside, where they can very quickly suffer in the cold.”
