Environment & Infrastructure President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the island has no dedicated legislation for dangerous animals unlike the UK, but she noted this legislation is nearly 50 years old and doesn’t designate all venomous or “dangerous” species within it.  

But she said plans are being drawn up to licence the ownership of exotic species “to ensure that their keepers meet their snake’s welfare needs, which also provides an opportunity to put in place provisions to ensure that large snakes are kept securely and that appropriate insurance is held”. 

She said this would come at the same time as new restrictions on owners of restricted breeds or crossbreeds of dogs.

If a dangerous animal were to escape under this regime the keeper could lose their licence and any damages, to property or people, could be claimed on third party liability insurance, she added 

Pictured: Yoshi, the four-foot Royal python, was reported missing on 5 August but was later found hiding behind the owner’s drawers.  

Deputy de Sausmarez said anyone keeping dangerous animals would have additional conditions requiring them to be securely kept with appropriate handling equipment and ensuring that any escapes are reporting to the authorities immediately.

“Any constricting snake that reaches an adult size of eight feet - 2.44m - or more should be considered potentially dangerous,” she said, noting that the only snakes which grow to this size are the reticulation python, the amethystine python, the green anaconda, the Indian python and the African rock python.

Only the Indian and Reticulated species are commonly available as pets, which can reach lengths of between 20 and 30 feet.

“Constricting snakes greater than eight feet should be securely accommodated and should be handled by at least two people at a time,” Deputy de Sausmarez said.

Since snakes have backbones and are vertebrates, they are protected under local animal welfare laws.