A family was shocked after their nanny found a python sleeping on top of their kitchen boiler.
The snake, a five-foot long reticulated python, was found at the house in Tooting, South London, on September 13.
The RSPCA, which rescued the animal, said it was quite likely the python had either escaped from a nearby property or had been abandoned by its owners nearby.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Abigail Campbell, who captured the python along with a colleague, said: “The nanny took [us] through to the kitchen, she was quite scared of the snake so kept well back.
“When I looked into the room I saw the python curled up on top of the boiler.
“He was most likely up there as it would have been the warmest part of the house and snakes need external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.”
She added: “The nanny believes he got into the boiler room through a gap in the wall from the garden. We believe he has either escaped or was abandoned nearby.
“He was slightly skinny. I gave him a nudge just to make sure he wasn’t aggressive but he was very calm and allowed me to pick him up no problem, although he did cling on to the boiler pipe very tightly, he was very strong.
“He was very chilled and became somewhat lively once he had been picked up, looking around and smelling the air.
“He was placed in a snake bag where he chilled out again and curled up.”
The python is now being cared for at South Essex Wildlife Hospital and the RSPCA is continuing to work to find its owner – but so far no one has come forward to claim the animal.
Ms Campbell said it was “not unusual” for the RSPCA to receive calls about snakes that had been abandoned.
She added: “Many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, and we suspect the reality of caring for them has become too much in these cases.
“This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re the right pet for them.”
The RSPCA said snakes were often good at escaping and advises that anyone considering purchasing such a pet should ensure that they are kept in a suitable enclosure for that species and that it is kept secure.
