Two men were nabbed with a boa constrictor kept in a kitbag in the boot of their Golf GTI on Monday.
Boa constrictors are classified as an alien invasive species of snake in SA.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the bust came after an off-duty East London K9 official received a tip-off.
“He responded with his private vehicle and noticed this vehicle driving in Berea and followed it,” she said.
Mqala said the car was stopped in Porter Street at about 10.50am on Monday after backup was called to assist with pulling it over.
The boa constrictor was found in a kitbag in the boot.
“Environmental affairs was contacted and the snake was confiscated and handed over to members of Python Park for safekeeping,” she said.
The men have been charged under the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act for failing to have a permit to carry an animal listed on the invasive species list.
Port Elizabeth snake expert and Sandula Conservation owner Mark Marshall said that in 2016 boa constrictors were listed under the Alien and Invasive Species list – with stricter laws to keep them.
Marshall said this specific snake, estimated to be about 2m, needed a microchip implant and the owners needed a range of permits to keep, sell or even transport it.
The boa is from Central and South America but a common pet for snake enthusiasts across the world.
“This type of snake is a fairly common pet for those who like snakes. It is large, impressive and mostly good natured, which makes it popular.
“They can often be found in snake parks or even kept by private collectors,” he said.
In June 2017, a pet shop owner in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, was arrested when an environmental affairs inspector found that the owner did not have permits for a boa constrictor being kept in the shop.
The man, who was sentenced this year, was ordered to pay a R50,000 fine, or spend six months behind bars.
Marshall said the law prohibited that type of snake, and several other reptile types, from being released into the wild.
“The regulation allows for officials to know exactly who keeps which snake.
“It also allows for authorities to ensure that they comply with certain regulations.
“Part of the regulation is to ensure that the snake is microchipped, so in the event that it is released, the owner can be tracked down and prosecuted,” he said.
Marshall, who has permits for these snakes, said the law also protected those who lived near to people who kept snakes as pets.