what to do if a boa snake appears in your car

Faced with the appearance of a wild animal inside a vehicle or a travel suitcase, the need arises to know how to act in these cases. From the Secretary of Environment of Bogotá they released some recommendations.

Experts recommend that citizens who find wildlife inside their cars or in suitcases, call the authorities to attend to the case. Photo: Secretary of the Environment of Bogotá.

The story in which a boa constrictor is observed descending from a white truck in the middle of Avenida Carrera 30, near the Movistar Arena coliseum,  highlighted the need to know how to act in these cases, in front of unexpected passengers.  

The owner of the car told authorities that  the reptile had probably gotten into the car in Melgar (Tolima), the city where it was a couple of weeks ago.  "Apparently this snake got into the back of the vehicle. According to its owners, they had been in Melgar for several days and it was possibly brought to Bogotá involuntarily," said Julio César Pulido, Undersecretary of Environment for the District. 

The boa  constrictor that was rescued on Avenida Carrera 30 is in good health. Photo: Secretary of the Environment of Bogotá. 

The snake was recovered by the National Police, who rescued it from the central lane of the track to where the animal traveled and remained for several minutes after getting off the back of the body,  where the spare tire or tank is usually located. of fuel in this type of car. 

In context:  VIDEO: Boa Serpent descending from a car in Av. Carrera 30 in Bogotá

The reptile was delivered at the El Salitre Transport Terminal liaison office to professionals from the Ministry of the Environment,  who carried out their initial assessment and identification. Later, the Temporary Wildlife Center was transferred for its rehabilitation. 

Pulido reported that the boa is in good condition and weighs 3.7 kilos. "She is in perfect health, obviously in conditions to which she is not used so her behavior is a little nervous (...).  Very soon, once the normal periods of quarantine and monitoring and surveillance are over It will be returned to its natural habitat , "said the official. 

What to do in these cases?

The District's Undersecretary of the Environment pointed out that to prevent cases like these from recurring, it is essential that all people traveling to rural areas of the country do a thorough inspection of the vehicles before starting their return. 

We suggest:  A new viper in India is named after a character from Harry Potter

He argued that, if not, unexpected passengers could be brought in unintentionally:  wild animals that fulfill an important ecosystem function within their habitats, which could lead to a natural imbalance.  In addition, removing them in unfavorable conditions could cause some type of injury and even death. 

The snake will be rehabilitated and later released into its natural habitat. Photo: Secretary of the Environment of Bogotá. 

"As you can understand,  wild animals seek shelter from the sun or hotter places at night or early morning when the temperature drops,  which is why vehicles become quite attractive places to take refuge because, among other things, they keep warm, "he said. 

We recommend:  Anaconda over three meters was saved from being slaughtered in the Meta

Additionally, he affirmed that if a citizen found a wild animal such as tarantulas, lizards, iguanas, scorpions, snakes, frogs, among other species inside their home or in their travel suitcases, the main  thing was to remain calm. 

Other tips 

- Avoid handling or touching them. 

-  Do not attack or mistreat them, since, in general, they are harmless, but they respond to aggression. 

- Think that, just as you are scared, they are also scared when they are in a place other than their habitat. 

- Contact the authorities so that expert personnel can attend to the incident. In this case to line 123. 

- While the appropriate personnel arrive to rescue the animal, the officials can indicate some recommendations over the phone, depending on the species involved. 

" The most advisable thing is that we, with specialized personnel, enter and do the assessment  and collection of the animal to guarantee its best conditions," said Pulido, who reported that the Secretary of the Environment is in a position to assist them and provide the care that this type of animals need.

Thanks.