Boa constrictor found in disused Melbourne building to be euthanased

A Boa constrictor is set to be euthanased after being found in a disused building in Melbourne.

The Boa, more than two metres long, is believed to have been dumped in the Seaford building before she was picked up by a snake catcher yesterday.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, will humanely euthanase the Boa, to prevent disease, after an investigation into how the snake got there.

Boa constrictors are native to central and South America and large penalties apply in Victoria to anyone breeding, trading or keeping illegal non-native species, DELWP spokesman Glenn Sharp said today.

Boa constrictors are among the top five high risk invasive animals commonly found in the state.

They carry a virus called Inclusion Body Disease which is fatal to native Australian pythons.