A venomous snake that escaped a wildfire by hiding in a cat house was rescued this week by wildlife handler Giannis Aggelis.
Aggelis said he received a call a few days ago to capture the snake in Souni, a once-lush community in the Limassol district that was heavily damaged by fire. Driving into the charred area, he said the devastation forced him to pull over to collect himself.
“When I saw this sight, my legs gave out,” Aggelis said in a video posted on social media. “When you know these places and you see everything black, it’s not easy. It’s one thing to watch it on TV and another to see how the fire reached the houses. It’s a pity for the people who lost their homes.”
Residents said they first spotted the viper a day before Aggelis arrived. The snake had crawled into a portable cat house in the yard, where they locked it until help came.
The homeowner said she was surprised the reptile had survived, noting that flames had approached her property before her husband managed to protect it.
When Aggelis opened the small structure, he found a large viper inside.
“Well, guys, it’s quite a monster,” he said on video.
Aggelis said the snake was unharmed and would be relocated to a protected area. He urged residents to be cautious, especially at night, as snakes in fire-stricken areas tend to move in search of shelter.
A video of the rescue was posted on Aggelis’ social media.
