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A SNAKE has been spotted in central London — sparking fears it has escaped from a nearby zoo.

Chris Kutler, 59, was walking on the Regent’s Canal towpath when his dog found a 3ft ­Aesculapian snake — also known as a rat snake — in the grass.

A dog walker on the Regent’s Canal towpath found a 3ft Aesculapian snake — also known as a rat snake — in the grass
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A dog walker on the Regent’s Canal towpath found a 3ft Aesculapian snake — also known as a rat snake — in the grassCredit: SWNS
ZSL London Zoo is not far from where the snake was discovered — but it said it had nothing to do with it
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ZSL London Zoo is not far from where the snake was discovered — but it said it had nothing to do with itCredit: Alamy
Regent's Canal, where the snake that is not native to the UK was spotted
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Regent's Canal, where the snake that is not native to the UK was spottedCredit: Getty

He said: “I thought it might be an adder or a grass snake, but it was much too big for that.

“I was quite mesmerised by it but didn’t know if it was venomous.

“So I called a friend who knows about this kind of thing who said he thought it was a rat snake.”

London Zoo is not far from where the snake was discovered — but it said it had nothing to do with it.

READ MORE ON SNAKES

The species is native to Europe and can be found in most parts of France, Italy and the Balkans.

It is not native to the UK, although there are three known colonies of the snake in this country.

They live in Regent’s Park in London, in Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, and in Bridgend, Glamorgan.

They are usually yellow or green, and slender and shiny. Juveniles are often confused with grass snakes.

Rat snakes are not venomous or aggressive. They can to more than 6ft long and are one of the largest snakes found in Europe.

They have teeth to help them catch their food, such as large rats and birds, but they generally kill their prey by constricting it. They are active during the day, usually from late afternoon or early evening until dusk

An RSPCA spokesman said: “There is a small population of non-native Aesculapian snakes in the Regent’s Park area of London.

“They are not venomous and if anyone sees them, it’s best to leave them alone and not try to pick them up.”

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