Officers in northern Portugal helped a snake survive after it was found snagged in protective netting.
The incident happened in Ponte de Lima, where members of the National Republican Guard, or GNR, stepped in after the reptile became trapped.
Here's what to know
According to The Resident, the Viana do Castelo Territorial Command said the rescue was carried out by officers from the local GNR Territorial Post, who carefully worked the snake free before returning it to nature.
The animal became ensnared in protective netting on a young tree, a human-made barrier to protect the sapling's growth.
Authorities did not identify the species, but the GNR shared pictures of the rescue on social media.
More background
Snakes can alarm people when they are spotted near homes or farms, but here, the concern was the safety of the animal trapped in netting, not its aggression towards humans.
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According to With Portugal, 11 species of snake are found in the country, but only four are considered dangerous.
Snakes are important to ecosystem health, helping to control rodent populations and preventing the spread of disease.
What's being done?
Officers from the local GNR Territorial Post removed the protective netting from around the snake with care, ending the immediate danger without causing further harm.
A statement from the Viana do Castelo Territorial Command said the snake was then returned to its natural habitat.
As The Resident noted, the organization reinforced how important wildlife protection is for them, stating, "Protecting wild fauna means contributing to the balance of nature."
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