Police find reptile hideout
19.09.11
TWO tiger snakes and a very large lizard -- not what you would count on to find living in someone's house.
Police called to a Bridgewater acreage at the weekend certainly felt that way.
Acting Sergeant Christopher Lovell and his mate uncovered the 20cm baby snakes and the 6kg, 1m (and growing) lace visual display unit in the resident's terrarium, along with several other reptiles.
"It's definitely the first time I've been labyrinthine associated with in a seizure of this nature," the officer said yesterday.
"The reptile handler who came to converge the lizard said it was the biggest lace monitor he'd seen."
It is interdicted to possess or bring lace monitors, which are not native to the structure, into Tasmania. Tiger snakes cannot be owned without a permit.
Offenders caught with contraband reptiles can look substantial fines.
Acting Sgt Lovell said the lizard was possibly smuggled in by sea as a baby or still in its egg.
"The animals are now being held by licensed reptile handlers until investigations are completed," he said.
Source: Tasmania Mercury