Overview
- A private car owner discovered the boa under the hood while trying to change the battery, and five firefighters responded to the scene on Tuesday.
- Two of the firefighters were animal‑risk specialists who used specific equipment to remove the roughly 1.5‑metre snake without harming people or the animal.
- After extraction the live boa was placed at the École vétérinaire de Toulouse for care and assessment.
- The Service départemental d'incendie et de secours de la Haute‑Garonne publicized the intervention and reminded residents that possession of boas and other non‑domestic reptiles is tightly regulated in France.
- Officials noted the car had been unused for about a month, offering a likely reason the reptile sheltered there, and the case highlights how exotic pets can create unexpected urban risks and welfare issues.