London:
A stowaway snake was found on a plane after it landed at Glasgow airport with the slithery passenger hitching a ride from Mexico to Scotland under a row of seats in the passenger cabin.
Animal rescuers from the Scottish SPCA were called in when staff discovered the creature under the row of seats in the passenger cabin on Tuesday.
The 18-inch snake, which travelled almost 5000 miles from Cancun, has been named Furtivo which means "sly" or "stealthy" in Spanish, the Daily Record reported.
It was safely contained in a box and is now being cared for at the charity's Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Cardonald by senior inspector Billy Linton.
Linton, who has more than 30 years' experience as a zookeeper, said airport staffs were "remarkably calm".
"We have had the snake examined by a vet and, although we can't be 100 per cent certain, we believe it is from the Dryadophis family, which is commonly referred to as American smooth-scaled racers," he said.
"Racers aren't venomous but, like all snakes, they can bite and Furtivo is very feisty. Although small at the moment, he is still a juvenile and has a lot of growing to do," Linton said.
"The staff at Glasgow Airport remained remarkably calm when faced with what must have been a rather unwelcome passenger," he said.
"I can only imagine that Furtivo managed to sneak his way onto the plane while it was waiting to take off in Cancun, although it is also possible he has hitched a lift in someone's hand luggage," he added.
Animal rescuers from the Scottish SPCA were called in when staff discovered the creature under the row of seats in the passenger cabin on Tuesday.
The 18-inch snake, which travelled almost 5000 miles from Cancun, has been named Furtivo which means "sly" or "stealthy" in Spanish, the Daily Record reported.
It was safely contained in a box and is now being cared for at the charity's Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Cardonald by senior inspector Billy Linton.
Linton, who has more than 30 years' experience as a zookeeper, said airport staffs were "remarkably calm".
"We have had the snake examined by a vet and, although we can't be 100 per cent certain, we believe it is from the Dryadophis family, which is commonly referred to as American smooth-scaled racers," he said.
"Racers aren't venomous but, like all snakes, they can bite and Furtivo is very feisty. Although small at the moment, he is still a juvenile and has a lot of growing to do," Linton said.
"The staff at Glasgow Airport remained remarkably calm when faced with what must have been a rather unwelcome passenger," he said.
"I can only imagine that Furtivo managed to sneak his way onto the plane while it was waiting to take off in Cancun, although it is also possible he has hitched a lift in someone's hand luggage," he added.
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