Three dead pythons and body of cat found in woodland

Three dead pythons and the body of a cat have been found within three days of each other in a South Lanarkshire woodland.

The discoveries were made between Carstairs village and the Clyde Valley Nursing Home within 72 hours ahead of the Christmas period.

The first snake was found around 10.30am on December 18, while a further two were found around the same time on December 21. A cat’s body was also found just a few metres from the snakes.

The Scottish SPCA has made an appeal for information as they described the incident as “very unusual”.

Dawn Robertson, an inspector at the animal welfare charity,said: “Sadly, the snakes were already dead when they were discovered.

“The person who alerted us to the first body found it at around 10.30am in woodland between Carstairs village and the Clyde Valley Nursing Home.

“We were then alerted to a further two dead snakes at around 10.30am three days later in the same area.

“When I attended the second call, I also came across the body of a cat at the foot of a nearby tree a few metres from the snakes.

“The snakes are all adult royal python and about one metre in length.

“The black and white cat was unfortunately not microchipped.

“Although we can’t be certain of the circumstances surrounding these deaths, it’s certainly a very unusual incident and we’re keen to establish how the bodies came to be in that stretch of woodland.

“If anyone recognises these snakes, or the cat, and knows who may have owned them, we would urge them to contact us as soon as possible by calling our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”