A large snake, thought to be a python, has mysteriously appeared on Swansea beach.
The animal, which was found on the sand near Verdi's cafe in Mumbles on the morning of Wednesday, February 9, is more than 6ft in length.
It has been confirmed that the snake was sadly dead when it was found. Find all of our Swansea news here.
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The RSPCA said it was unknown how it had ended up on the beach, but that it was possible it had been abandoned.
The snake, which some on social media suggested appeared to be a python or a young Burmese python, was found "quite high up" the beach between two lifeboat slips.
At the time of publishing it has not been confirmed whether the snake had been removed from the beach. It was unable to be removed at the time of discovery due to the incoming tide.
It isn't illegal to own a pet snake in the UK and you can often buy common breeds from pet shops. There are thought to be about two million snakes kept as pets in the UK; corn snakes and royal pythons are the most popular species.
It is possible for some pythons to grow to 21ft in length.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We are really sorry to hear that this snake has since died. With the limited information we have about the incident, it’s possible that this reptile was an escaped pet, or sadly, the snake could have been deliberately abandoned.
“Unfortunately, incidents like this are not unusual. Our officers are regularly called to collect snakes and other exotic animals that appear to have been abandoned as people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when purchasing them.
“Reptiles may look resilient and tough on the outside but they are actually completely reliant on their owners to provide the correct environment for the species. The RSPCA urges prospective owners to thoroughly research their particular needs, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for them.
“We would always recommend that anyone who sees an exotic snake to keep a safe distance, call our helpline on 0300 1234 999 and monitor the animal until we can get there.”
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