Venomous African snake causes alarm in northern Germany
German media are warning about a boomslang snake prowling in the northern part of the country. The reptile, which originated from Africa, has venom potent enough to kill an adult human.
The uninvited guest in Germany was reported by the Bild newspaper, among others. Authorities in Niebüll, located in Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany, have issued warnings to residents.
Dangerous snake prowling in Germany
Katy Krause, deputy mayor of Braderup municipality, admitted in an interview with "Bild" journalists that a woman in the Niebüll area "saw a green snake." Thanks to the photos she took, it was quickly established what kind of snake it was. The boomslang is quite distinctive in appearance, with its intense coloration and very large eyes.
Local residents have been warned, and authorities have also ordered a search for the snake, but so far, it has not been successful. However, the snake has its first documented attack on record—it attacked a dog, which died after being bitten.
An alert and information have been posted on the municipality of Braderup's Facebook page. The alert states that a bite from this snake "can have severe health consequences for humans, up to and including death if medical help is not provided quickly enough." Police ask local residents to avoid undeveloped green areas, especially tall grass.
African snake in northern Europe
The boomslang is a snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is common in the fauna of Mozambique, Botswana, and Namibia. Adult specimens can grow up to 2 metres in length. The bright green colour is a distinguishing feature of males. The venom of this snake acts slowly (up to 48 hours) but reduces blood clotting, and untreated bites can lead to death due to numerous internal haemorrhages, even in an adult human.
It is unclear how a venomous snake from Africa ended up so far north in Europe. German media suggest that it most likely escaped from the terrarium of a local wild animal breeder.
