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Hunt continues for boa constrictor 'thicker than man's calf'

The chances of locating a rogue boa constrictor are growing slimmer by the day, according to snake catcher Sean Cade.

Mr Cade has been tasked with finding the reptile, reportedly 2.5 metres long and thicker than a man's calf.

"I've had some doozies in my time but this is one of the most unusual ones given it's a boa of that size – that's the most alarming thing," he told AAP.

Skin found earlier this month at the Cascades Estate in Silverdale, NSW, was the last sign of the snake.

Residents were warned of the large boa constrictor after its skin was found in Sydney, Source: Australian Snake Catchers.
Residents were warned of the large boa constrictor after its skin was found in Sydney. Source: Australian Snake Catchers.

The NSW Government sent letters to residents of the Cascades Estate complex after the “freshly shed” snake skin was found wrapped around the beams of the construction site.

“NSW government has reason to believe there is an adult boa constrictor snake ‘at large’ in or around the Cascades Estate,” the letter said.

“A freshly shed snake skin was found at a property on Torumba Circuit on 9 October 2019, NSW government is in the process of trying to locate and capture the animal and is requesting the residents be on the lookout for it and to report any sightings.”

Mr Cade says while boa constrictors can last a couple of months without food, many things could harm it in the Australian environment.

His main concern was heat, with the mercury hitting 36C degrees on Friday across Sydney, something that would force the snake to lay low until cooler weather and rain.

But Mr Cade says foxes, dogs and even large goannas could cause the snake some grief, while lawnmowers also posed a risk.

There was only a 20 per cent chance of finding it, he said.

The snake catcher tasked with finding the boa constrictor says the chances of catching it are growing slimmer and slimmer. Source: Getty Images.
The snake catcher tasked with finding the boa constrictor says the chances of catching it are growing slimmer and slimmer. Source: Getty Images.

"Sometimes you give up on these things and then it just pops up," he said.

"That's just the nature of the business unfortunately."

Mr Cade is almost certain the boa constrictor was illegally bred by a member of the public, rather than being a zoo or safari escapee.

"People do stupid stuff all the time," he said.

Boa constrictor’s are native to Central and South America and it is illegal to keep the species in Australia. Although not venomous, the snakes are considered to be highly dangerous, due to how they kill their prey – by wrapping their bodies around their prey and squeezing them to death.

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