The five-foot pet boa constrictor that escaped from its tank in Msida over two weeks ago, triggering off alarm among many, was found dead near Junior College yesterday.
One worried man said he was afraid to sit on the toilet in case the snake crawled out of the bowl and bit him
Skittles, the three-year-old Brazilian Rainbow Boa, sparked a ‘snake hunt’ when she went missing from owner Stephan Mintoff’s apartment in Triq Ta’ Xmiexi two weeks ago.
Mr Mintoff had printed flyers and issued appeals for help in finding his beloved pet through Facebook and The Times.
He was pleasantly replied by the public’s reaction, with many people contacting him about possible sightings or wishing him well in his search.
“One guy threatened to chop Skittles into pieces if he found her, while another said he planned to steal her. But they were the exceptions,” Mr Mintoff said.
Several concerned readers contacted The Times offices after the story broke asking to be kept informed of developments, with one worried man saying he was afraid to sit on the toilet in case the snake crawled out of the bowl and bit him.
Mr Mintoff received several calls on Friday about possible sightings in Msida near Junior College and when he went to investigate on Friday afternoon he found a dead snake in the road. “I wasn’t sure it was her as the body had been run over by vehicles and it was badly mauled,” he said.
However, he returned yesterday morning and his worst fears were confirmed when he inspected the snake more closely and realised Skittles had failed to slither safely across the road.
“It’s sad – she deserved a lot better. It’s frustrating that she got so far and probably avoided countless cars before being hit on that small street,”Mr Mintoff said.
He planned to return to the scene last night to collect the remains.
Asked if he intended to buy another snake for the now-empty tank that he had spent a lot of time and money on making suitable for Skittles, Mr Mintoff said: “Maybe in the future, but right now I just want to focus on my studies.”
Besides, Mr Mintoff already owns another pet snake – an amelanistic corn snake – plus a skunk and several cats that need his care.