Venomous cobra keeps small French town on tenterhooks

A small town near Toulouse in France has been shaken by fears that a deadly snake has been spotted in the area.

The fire brigade and police in Castelginest have been searching for the cobra since Tuesday, when it was spotted.

Public facilities and parks remain closed and many residents are concerned.

“For safety reasons and due to the confirmed presence of a venomous cobra in the town, we ask you to be very careful when out and about,” the town council said. he warned.

“Avoid tall grass; this also applies to your children and pets.”

The snake was photographed and noticed by a town resident.

The mayor then called in an expert to assess the situation.

The fire department deployed a drone and scanned home gardens to find the creature.

“Rest assured that we are doing everything possible to ensure your safety,” the city council said. he said.

“They looked everywhere, removed all the boxes and lids,” one resident told broadcaster Europe 1.

“The dogs, cat and kids stay inside too. My son has a cherry tree right outside his bedroom,” said a neighbor.

“I check under my children’s beds every evening before they go to sleep.”

Reptile expert Dorian Blayac, appointed by the Prefecture of Toulouse, told Europe 1 that cobra bites can be fatal and the nearest hospital is notified.

“They are willing to accept anyone who may have been bitten by this species,” he said.

It is not yet clear whether the snake was an escaped pet or arrived in the wild some other way.