ST. PETERSBURG, September 1 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) — A four-meter Indian python, abandoned by its owner in an apartment of a five-story building in the village of Naziya, has been seized by a court decision and transferred to the zoo, the Leningrad Region Prosecutor's Office told RAPSI.

The python was rescued by specialists from the North-West Interregional Directorate of environmental agency Rosprirodnadzor. As stated on the website of the environmental organization, in 2020 a bank took the apartment of the owner of the python for debts, and the woman left it there when leaving the property. At first, the neighbors were afraid of the python, but over time took pity and started to feed it. They tried to find the owner, but in vain, so in the end they had to turn to Rosprirodnadzor.

The prosecutors found out that the python is included in the list of species of animals and plants falling under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

As it follows from the law on the responsible treatment of animals, owners are obliged to keep their pets in accordance with their specific biological characteristics, not to leave them unattended, to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of people and animals around such pets. 

Therefore, a lawsuit was filed with the court for the withdrawal of the python. from the property of the woman, who left him to its fate, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The Kirov City Court of the Leningrad Region terminated the defendant's ownership of the python, and the animal was transferred to the Leningrad Zoo.