Boomslang threat: Deadly African snake on the loose in northern Germany
German media are warning about a boomslang snake prowling in the northern part of the country. The reptile, originating from Africa, has venom potent enough to kill even an adult human.
The unwelcome guest in Germany was reported by the Bild newspaper, among others. Authorities in Niebüll, located in Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany, have decided to issue 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 her photographs, it was fairly quickly established what kind of snake it was. The boomslang is quite distinctive in appearance, with not only its intense coloration but also very large eyes.
Local residents have already 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 to its name - it attacked a dog, which died after being bitten.
An alert and information have been posted on the Braderup municipality's Facebook page, stating 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 are asking 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 characteristic mainly of the fauna of Mozambique, Botswana, and Namibia. Adult specimens can grow up to nearly 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.
