Authorities seek man after live 6ft python left outside gay club
The RSPCA are seeking a man after a live python was dumped outside a gay club in Manchester.
The incident occurred on Saturday 16 outside Kiki Bar on Manchester’s Canal street, when a female carpet python was left outside the venue.
The live snake was in a plastic box inside a bin bag in a rubbish collection area. The snake was only discovered by staff in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It was rescued by the workers, who named it ‘Kiki’ in honour of the bar, and contacted the RSPCA.
The RSPCA released CCTV of a man they are seeking in connection with the incident.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We would like to speak to the man seen in this footage walking along Richmond Street around 14:05 on 16th July.
“A snake was found in a white bin bag by the pile of bin bags behind Kiki bar on Canal Street.
Had this snake not been found, it would have been collected with the other rubbish and most certainly would have died.
“The snake had no water and was left in a small box in a plastic bag in sub optimal temperatures for the breed.
“To dump a snake in this way is unnecessary and is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
“There are plenty of vets, pet shops or charities that would take in any unwanted animal rather than leave it to come to harm or die in such a cruel manner.”
Kiki Bar said: “We’re glad to report that ‘Kiki the Snake’ is doing well thanks to our vigilant door and bar staff.
“We are co-operating with the RSPCA to ensure that the person responsible for abandoning this beautiful creature is caught and punished thanks to our CCTV footage.”
Kiki Bar manager Adam Edwards told the Manchester Evening News that he was stunned to hear that his staff had discovered the live snake.
He said: “Some of my staff had been down to take out some rubbish and one bag looked different to the others so looked inside and realised it contained a large box containing a snake.
“It had been wrapped in a sack and then in the bin liner. There was a lid on the box and it looks like it had been left there to die.”
If you have information about the incident, contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 4999