Two meter boa found in Nijmegen bush

A game warden in Hatertse and Overasseltse Vennen near Nijmegen literally stumbled over a two-meter boa constrictor on Wednesday.

Warden Harry Woesthuis who works for the Forestry Service said the colossal serpent was probably released in nature by someone who kept it as a pet. “These animals cannot survive in nature here, which means the person who set it free not only condemned it to die, but also created danger for children playing in the bush,” he said.

He had been out measuring the water level in the popular park when he came across the snake, almost tripping over its sizable body. He said the animal seemed young and probably spent its entire life in a terrarium, until it got too big to keep as a pet. Native to South and Central America boa constrictors do not attack humans, but as they can grow up to three meters, they can easily strangle and gobble up a small child.

The Forestry Service has since captured the animal and given it in care of reptile organization Ravon.