Partially Decomposed Animals – More than 30 Venomous Snakes Found in House in Carinthia

This operation is quite a challenge: in a neglected house in Egg am Faaker See, a total of 36 snakes – 16 of which were highly poisonous – and a lizard were found. This was confirmed by the police, magistrate Villach and reptile expert Helga Happ to the “Krone”.

Investigations are underway
In the empty house, the animals lived in the most unfavorable conditions – some among dead members of their species, and decomposed animals, beetles and maggots were also found. The owner of the animals has already been located and contacted by the Villach city police command: “The investigation is ongoing,” says city police commander Erich Londer.

It is still completely unclear whether the reptiles were kept on site or simply “temporarily stored”. What is certain is that “keeping poisonous snakes is strictly prohibited in Carinthia”, emphasises Happ, who in such cases – even now – takes the animals to her reptile zoo. “I can’t say more about it, the process is still ongoing.”

Multiple dead animals: “Snakes in plastic containers”
Police were on site when the reptiles were seized, but the Villach magistrate is responsible: “This happened on July 12. The house where the snakes were found is empty and quite dilapidated,” says municipal director Alfred Winkler.

“The snakes were housed in the abandoned building partly in terrariums and partly in plastic containers. Skeletons and at least ten dead animals were also found,” said Winkler, who stressed that while snakes are often found or confiscated, cases “in this form” are “extremely rare.”

According to Winkler, the house is part of a larger construction project, but the owner of the construction site has not housed the animals there. The owner of the snakes has already come forward.