Cobra on loose! French commune closes parks and schools
Venomous cobra sparks alert in French commune near Toulouse
The mairie sent an alert message to residents to warn them of its presence
Mairie de Castelginest Facebook
A French commune near Toulouse has closed local schools and parks and raised an alert over a venomous cobra on the loose in the area.
The alert was issued on Tuesday (May 12) evening following a reported sighting of the snake in Castelginest, in the Haute-Garonne department. .
A resident contacted the authorities after a neighbour reported seeing a snake in their garden and provided a photograph as evidence.
The mairie then sent an alert message to residents and posted a vigilance notice on its website and social media.
“As a safety precaution due to the confirmed presence of a venomous cobra in the area, you are asked to exercise extreme caution when travelling,” it states on the Facebook post.
Officials advise people to avoid tall grass and to keep children and pets away from such areas.
As a precautionary measure, the town hall has ordered the closure of all parks, cemeteries, sports fields, and municipal halls today. The collège, the centre de loisirs, and the centre petite enfance (early childhood centre) will also remain closed as a precaution.
Residents are advised to keep their distance and promptly call emergency services (18 in France) if they come across the snake. If possible, they should also try to take a photograph.
Specialised brigade teams are on alert and ready to respond.
The mayor of Castelginest said the origin of the cobra is unknown, and that, to their knowledge, no one in the commune has authorisation to keep such an animal, reports Franceinfo.
The Connexion is in touch with the town hall and is awaiting further developments regarding the situation.
