This incident has certainly fired people up, as it should. Please don't think however, that it's only reptiles that receive the cold shoulder from the authorities. I own both snakes and furry critters, and in my time as a horse owner I have had the eye-opening experience of assisting in the rescue of neglected and abused horses. Often reduced to tears, my daughter and I would help care for the rescued animals whilst the relevant 'authorities' worked on the cases. IN EVERY SINGLE CASE, THE OWNERS WERE GIVEN A SMALL FINE, A LECTURE BY THE RSPCA, AND THE ANIMALS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR "CARE" !!! After much digging and worming around, I encountered an equally frustrated RSPCA officer who told me confidentially that horses were hardly ever seized permanently because the RSPCA doesn't have the room to paddock them. That's right, the morons who are supposed to be defending the helpless creatures of this world can't work out a solution to this 'insurmountable' problem. How about paying some farmer a modest fee to agist them until they are rehomed so it saves him slashing his fields? Hard, isn't it?
I would say that snakes represent the 'unsavoury' to some of the fluff and feathers volunteers at such organizations - and to some of the paid staff also - so procrastination is their first line of action.
As for Parks and Wildlife...bloody hell, I would have expected quicker action there.
Anyhow, a good outcome for the snakes and the offender has a date with his karma.
Morgana