The Camden Creature

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   Hi All

Here�s a little story you may (or may not) find interesting.

 About 7-8 years ago I was working in Camden Town, right next to the canal. And some lunchtimes I would have a stroll along the canal towpath that went past London Zoo. On this particular day the temp was about 23-24oC  and some of the footpath was being replaced. As my friend and I strolled along, I suddenly noticed a snake head appear from under a cracked slab. I didn�t immediately recognise the species other than it wasn�t a grass snake or adder.  I picked it up and it was at about a metre long. I took it along to the study/teaching centre that was on that side of the canal (opposite side to ZSL),  thinking maybe one of their charges might have escaped. The man who answered the door protested that they hadn�t lost anything and that there were snakes all along the canal bank and they lived in the burrows and ate the rats and said I should let it go. Okay if he was sure. And down a hole it went.

Now, I have just come across a picture that reminded me of that snake. It was a bit more grey but I think it was an Aesculapian Snake. What do you think guys an gals? Are they living and breeding on the Regents Canal?

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Deano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 133	Post Options Post Reply Quote Deano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Camden Creature Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 5:37am
	Hi All Here�s a little story you may (or may not) find interesting. About 7-8 years ago I was working in Camden Town, right next to the canal. And some lunchtimes I would have a stroll along the canal towpath that went past London Zoo. On this particular day the temp was about 23-24oC and some of the footpath was being replaced. As my friend and I strolled along, I suddenly noticed a snake head appear from under a cracked slab. I didn�t immediately recognise the species other than it wasn�t a grass snake or adder. I picked it up and it was at about a metre long. I took it along to the study/teaching centre that was on that side of the canal (opposite side to ZSL), thinking maybe one of their charges might have escaped. The man who answered the door protested that they hadn�t lost anything and that there were snakes all along the canal bank and they lived in the burrows and ate the rats and said I should let it go. Okay if he was sure. And down a hole it went. Now, I have just come across a picture that reminded me of that snake. It was a bit more grey but I think it was an Aesculapian Snake. What do you think guys an gals? Are they living and breeding on the Regents Canal?
	Deano Better to be lucky than good looking.

Deano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 133	Post Options Post Reply Quote Deano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 6:05am
	Thanks for that David, I wonder if they originated from 'Palmers Pets' that used to be in Parkway. I remember going in there as a kid, on my way to London Zoo, and seeing exotic pets like cotton eared marmosets.
	Deano Better to be lucky than good looking.

Deano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 133	Post Options Post Reply Quote Deano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 11:11am
	Am I right in thinking the other population is also next to a Zoo. Coincidence?
	Deano Better to be lucky than good looking.

Alan Hyde Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alan Hyde Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 1:33pm
	Funny you know, I've always been surprised that garter snakes have not established themselves in UK. I remember hundreds in pet shops in the late seventies and some must've escaped or been released. They seem very similar to natrix in their habits (Apart from the fact they give birth to live young).
	O-> O+>

Jimpklop Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 208	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jimpklop Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 1:52pm
	I have read this several times and still cant make sense of it, this will probably irritate some people. But are there two colonies of Elaphe Longissima in the UK? One in Wales one in London? Sorry James
	Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)

Alan Hyde Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alan Hyde Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2007 at 2:26pm
	Hi David, Tony. The only thing I can think of is, perhaps those garters need a harsher winter in order to procreate? Or maybe the extremely high population found in hibernacula may have something to do with survival. Tony, a dead BC must've been a sight! The only foriegn species i've ever found was natrix tesselata along the motorway embankment at Shepperton middx and european pond turtle also found in Shepperton swimming in the gravel pits.
	O-> O+>

AGILIS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689	Post Options Post Reply Quote AGILIS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 2:35am
	hi all I think deanos got a good point abouts Palmers pet shop being part of the equasion as it was only walking distants from canal banks . But I have confession to make in the 1950s security at the zoo was so slack no cct unheard of , and probably one keeper patroling now and then the whole zoo compound . Me and my mate both 12 year olds helped our selves to a green lizard a wall liz and +a baby adder from an outside round enclosure due to the lack of money as we could not afford the 20P for a lac viridis in Palmers pet shop so who knows what was taken and let out? I wonder if they still have this snake pit out side as what we used to call it . keith ( self confessed reptile felon of the 50s) Edited by AGILIS

Deano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 133	Post Options Post Reply Quote Deano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 11:19am
	Hi Keith No that round encloser (snake pit) is long gone.
	Deano Better to be lucky than good looking.

AGILIS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689	Post Options Post Reply Quote AGILIS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 2:32pm
	Hi deano when did the pit close ? I must point out the adder was let free near High beech in Epping forest after I took it to school and showed to all and terrorised a few girls with it , so it ended up a lot better of then living in the pit might be a few decendents still living there. keith Edited by AGILIS

AGILIS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689	Post Options Post Reply Quote AGILIS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 4:55pm
	innoccent m,lud......... Dont think I see any Aescu how do you spell it snakes either only walls greens adders and grass.If you got caught by the authorities today nicking them the punishment would more likly be a 2 month holiday in the West Indies or S Africa, unlike in the 1950s you got a good thrashing and sentenced to ten years in a secure mental institution unless it was a capital offence how I miss them good old Blairite pc free days . keith Edited by AGILIS