When near the ocean, Australians are accustomed to keeping a look out for predatory sharks, man-eating crocodiles, and roaring surf.
Residents of a Sydney coastal neighborhood are now being warned to be on the lookout for an exotic snake that has escaped.
Authorities reported that they were “alerted to a sighting of a Boa constrictor” slithering about the Sylvania suburb beside the lake on Thursday.
“Please do not approach the animal,” the Department of Primary Industries for New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement.
“If safe to do so, take a photo and contact us so that we can identify and attempt to capture the snake.”
The girthy creature was seen slowly worming across a beachside walkway in a video that was shared on social media.
Boa constrictors are among the largest snake species in the world and are indigenous to Central and South America.
They have an average length of around three metres (10 feet), and are named for the way in which they squeeze the life out of their prey.
Boa constrictors are sought-after exotic pets by many snake enthusiasts.
“The boa constrictor is not native to Australia and is a high risk of establishing populations in a wide range of environments in NSW and across Australia,” according to the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
“This snake is bred and kept both legally and illegally for the pet trade around the world.”
