Partly decomposed animals

Over 30 poisonous snakes found in a house in Carinthia

A total of 36 snakes were found, including highly venomous ones.(Bild: zVg)

More than 30 snakes - including highly venomous ones - and a lizard were found in an empty house in Egg am Faaker See (Carinthia).

This operation is quite something: a total of 36 snakes - 16 of them highly venomous - and a lizard were found in a neglected house in Egg am Faaker See. This was confirmed by the police, Villach municipal authorities and reptile expert Helga Happ to the "Krone" newspaper.

Investigation underway
The animals were living in the most adverse conditions in the empty house - partly among dead conspecifics, and decomposed animals, beetles and maggots were also found. The owner of the animals has already been located and contacted by the Villach municipal police command: "The investigation is ongoing," says municipal police commander Erich Londer.

Many of the snakes are poisonous, such as this horned viper.(Bild: zVg)

The animals were not kept in a species-appropriate manner.(Bild: zVg)

The house resembles a hovel.(Bild: zVg)

Horned vipers are poisonous and it is forbidden to keep them.(Bild: zVg)

Some of the animals were kept in plastic tubs.(Bild: zVg)

This coral otter is also poisonous.(Bild: zVg)

In addition to the snakes still alive, dead animals and skeletons were also found.(Bild: zVg)

This specimen is probably a garter snake.(Bild: zVg)

A stump-banded snake is also pictured here.(Bild: zVg)

It is still completely unclear whether the reptiles were kept on site or merely "temporarily stored". What is certain in any case: "Keeping poisonous snakes is strictly prohibited in Carinthia," emphasizes Happ, who takes the animals into her reptile zoo in such cases - as is the case now. "I can't say any more, the proceedings are still ongoing."

Several dead animals: "Snakes in plastic tubs"
Although the police were on site when the reptiles were seized, the Villach municipal authority is responsible: "It happened on 12 July. The house in which the snakes were found is empty and quite run-down," explains municipal director Alfred Winkler.

"The snakes were housed in the abandoned building, partly in terrariums and partly in plastic tubs. Skeletons were also found and at least ten dead animals," says Winkler, who emphasizes that although snakes are always found or seized, cases "in this form" are "extremely rare".

According to Winkler, the house was part of a larger construction project, but the owner of the building site had not housed the animals there. The owner of the snakes has already been reported.