A ‘deadly’ snake given a police escort was a case of miss-taken identity
A "deadly" snake feared to be so dangerous it had to be given a police escort before being put down has turned out to be harmless.
Snake thought to be a green mamba found in Aberdeen was actually a harmless tree snake
A probe is underway after the Scottish SPCA euthanised the harmless tree snake - believing it to be a poisonous green mamba.
The reptile was discovered on a ship that had docked in Aberdeen after travelling from Africa with freight last month.
Restrictions on the movement of venomous snakes meant Police Scotland had to give the the animal charity an escort as a rescue officer transported the snake to a local centre to be identified.
Because it was believed to be one of the world's most dangerous serpents, the snake was put in a freezer to die.
he safety of staff and the public is paramount and as such the snake was placed in a freezer where it passed away
But it has now been revealed it was a harmless green tree snake which had no fangs or venom.
The snake was put down due to "severe health and safety concerns", with the closest anti-venom for a green mamba bite located in London. Workers had tried to find it a home with a specialist reptile keeper.
Last night Keith Marley, co-founder of animal sanctuary the New Arc in Aberdeen, said freezing was a "horrible way to die" for a snake.
A green tree snake
He added: "I don't like to criticise what other rescuers do, and the Scottish SPCA do a lot of good work, but on this occasion they got it wrong."
But Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: "The safety of staff and the public is paramount and as such the snake was placed in a freezer where it passed away.
A poisonous green mamba
Man catches snake with BARE hands then puts it to sleep
"Recent guidance issued on euthanizing animals suggests that placing a reptile in a freezer is not the preferred method.
"However, in this instance freezing was considered the only safe option as any other method would have posed a significant risk to our staff."