Animal Rights Activists Save Poisonous Snakes from Human Danger
The Environmental Board granted the Animal Protection Society a one-year permit to transport snakes, which have accidentally ended up in backyards or urban areas, back into the wild.
The permit, animal rights activists said, is necessary as all snakes in Estonia - there are two kinds: nonvenomous grass snakes and poisonous vipers - are under wildlife protection, ERR radio reported.
The poisonous vipers can only legally be killed when a person's life is in danger. Any violent behavior against the snakes may bring the offender up to one year in prison.
The animal rights organization's helpline provides pointers on how to behave if a snake has crept into one's yard. "We would like to avoid snakes being killed," said Kadri Võrel, head of the working group dealing with exotic animals and reptiles at the organization.
Ingrid Teesalu