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ARCHIVED - Slippery start to summer surveillance on Tabarca Island with the capture of one-metre snake
The first of 300,000 tourists expected to visit the island off Alicante coast this summer were greeted by a one-metre snake "wandering the streets"
At least 300,000 tourists are expected to head to Alicante's Tabarca Island this summer and with the influx of visitors already underway, the Guardia Civil reinforced surveillance and police patrols last week.
What they didn't expect was such a slippery start to the seasonal police campaign with one of the first tasks undertaken being the capture of a one-metre snake that "wandered through the main streets to the astonishment of visitors to the island".
In a statement, the Guardia confirmed the reptile was a young specimen of Malpolon monspessulanus, commonly known as the Montpellier snake, which is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake.
Stunned to see the creature slithering through the streets, several members of the public alerted the police and a team from the Guardia's Nature Protection Service, SEPRONA, was quickly on the scene. They captured and identified the snake, which was said to be in good condition but appeared to "have lost its way", and "returned it to its natural habitat unharmed".
The Guardia Civil Santa Pola, in collaboration with Alicante Local Police, is responsible for public safety on Tabarca Island, but given the influx of visitors during the summer months, reinforcements are drafted in from elsewhere in Alicante.
From now until September 15, troops from the Citizen Security Units of the San Vicente Company and USECIC posts of the Command, the Prosecutor and Border Patrols (PAFIF), Alicante Provincial Maritime Service (SMP), the Underwater Activities Group (GEAS), and the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) are deployed.
"Amongst other duties, the aim is to maintain public safety on the island, guarantee the prevention of the safety of tourists, the protection of their property during their stay and the immediate response to any emergencies that may arise," explained the Guardia.
In addition, the Guardia and others monitor maritime traffic, underwater activities, recreational activities, events and parties on board vessels carrying passengers whilst protecting the island's natural environment.
Image 1: Guardia Civil
Image 2: Commons Wikipedia
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