A Sunshine Coast snake catcher has described the death of a carpet python as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has seen.
Stuart McKenzie, who owns Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, said the carpet python was found dead on a road in Ninderry recently with a rope around its neck and a dead chicken nearby.
It had died from horrific injuries.
He said it’s likely the snake has taken a chicken from a coop and the owner has caught it and probably dragged it behind a car using a rope.
In a post on his Facebook page said the pictures of the dead snake left him furious and made him feel sick.
“This Carpet Python had clearly eaten someone’s chicken, and the homeowner decided to tie a rope around its neck and drag it along — most likely behind a car,” the post read.
“It’s not the snake’s fault it ate your chicken, it’s your fault for not having a snake-proof coop,” he said.
He said his snake catchers are seeing at least one case of animal cruelty a week, sometimes every day.
He said the Environment Department and RSPCA are investigating the incident and hopes the culprit is caught and punished.
