Inside a shop display in Verulam's CBD in South Africa, a customer made an unsettling find. The main attraction was not the footwear, but rather a green snake hiding in one of the shoes on display.
Here's what to know
The Witness reported the reptile was discovered at a store on Todd Street, where merchandise became an unexpected hiding place.
Staff sought assistance after the roughly three-foot-long snake was spotted in a shoe at the Todd Street shop. By the time a Reaction Unit South Africa officer got there, the animal had already moved out of the footwear and into the display cabinet, per an official.
The outlet added that the animal was safely captured and relocated.
More background
The setting stood out because the snake was found in a retail display in Verulam's busy central business district instead of somewhere like a yard or roadside. As humans encroach on the habitats of wild animals, these sorts of interactions occur with greater frequency.
The snake could possibly be looking for refuge for any number of reasons, and it was a good first step for the staff members to call for help.
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The response in Verulam was handled by RUSA. The security company operates under a permit issued by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that allows officers acting in an official capacity to remove and relocate some reptiles, amphibians, and other vertebrates, as The Witness described.
RUSA told the outlet that protected species are subject to stricter rules and cannot be killed, moved, or otherwise dealt with unless the relevant Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife district conservation officer first approves it.
What can be done
With a snake inside a display cabinet or in another unusual location, trained removal lowers the risk of panic or injury.
While it might be tempting for employees or shoppers to address the issue immediately, the more prudent move is to call the experts and get professional assistance.
Where can I learn more?
The Verulam discovery is the latest example of a snake turning up in an ordinary indoor space.
• In South Africa, rescuers removed a venomous cobra from a woman's room and relocated it safely.
• Also in South Africa, a family tore out a wall cupboard to reach a juvenile Cape cobra.
• In Queensland, a snake catcher found an intruder curled up in the laundry basket.
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