When Ryan King was called about reports of a snake viper found in a brick kiln, he had his doubts. They are among the deadliest snakes in the world and do not typically live in Salford.
However, the RSPCA inspector quickly realized that he was wrong. It was actually a snake viper that appeared to have survived a 4,000-mile journey from Pakistan in a load of bricks.
“I was a bit skeptical,” King said. “Sometimes we go to jobs like this and it turns out to be a harmless grass snake. We’ve even seen reports of snakes that turned out to be plastic toys.”
A forklift operator at Manchester Brick Specialists in Salford spotted the Viper last Friday in a container of bricks that had arrived about a month ago.
Workers researched what it could be and concluded it looked like a saw-toothed otter, but were unaware of how dangerous it could be. The company’s logistics manager, Michael Regan, put a box over it and called the RSPCA.
“I knew I had to keep a safe distance, but obviously had no idea how deadly this snake was,” he said, recalling the moment he was told. “It was pretty shocking.”
Saw turtles are quite small but have a venomous bite. In India, which is believed to account for half of all snakebite deaths worldwide, they are feared for their high-speed attacks. There are four species that together cause the most human deaths.
King said he quickly realized it was a dangerous snake when he saw it. In full body armor, he was able to slip it into a snake bag and transport it to a new home, a facility licensed to care for venomous reptiles.
“I just think it was so lucky that they spotted the snake,” he said. “They are very small and could easily have bitten someone.
“Antivenom is available in the countries where the viper originated, but even then the snake is so venomous that it does not always save the victim.
“It has been my honor to work with this snake and I’m glad he has a home to look after.”
The RSPCA recommends that anyone who sees a stray exotic snake should keep a safe distance and call their hotline on 0300 1234 999.