Austin animal authorities to search for cobra linked to man’s death

[TexasTowelie]

A monocled cobra. Photo by Ricardo B. Brazziell AMERICAN-STATESMAN

AUSTIN --The search will be on Friday morning for a venomous cobra police think is responsible for the death of an 18-year-old Temple man.

The search will be centered around the Lowe’s Home Improvement store near Parmer Lane and Interstate 35 where Grant Thompson was found in cardiac arrest Tuesday night. Thompson was pronounced dead at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center that night with puncture wounds on his wrist, police said. An autopsy report on Thompson’s death is pending.

The decision to conduct the search came after Austin’s Animal Protection Office opted to wait to see if any sightings of a snake in that area would be reported. The office typically responds to reports of animal cruelty and neglect as well as animal rescues.

“We felt we needed to organize and conduct a proactive search in the interest of public safety,” Animal Protection supervisor Mark Sloat said.

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/austin-animal-authorities-to-search-for-cobra-link/nm2CQ/#56f45734.257263.735795

Earlier thread:
Police: Cobra missing after man dies of possible snakebite

[hlthe2b]

1. It was found dead near the Lowes where man found dead in car

Cobra found dead near north Austin Lowe's store

AUSTIN -- Austin police have found the missing monocled cobra that may be connected to the death of an 18-year-old Temple man. The snake was found dead not far from the place where police believed it went missing.

The cobra belonged to Grant Thompson. Thompson was found unresponsive Tuesday evening in his vehicle in the Lowe's parking lot along the 13000 block of the southbound Interstate 35 service road in Austin.

He was transported to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center where he later died.

APD believes the cobra was inside Thompson's vehicle.

http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/07/15/police-searching-for-monocled-cobra-in-connection-to-teens-death/30218585/

[DhhD]

2. While searching for scientific information on a monocled, I found this scary ad. Is this illegal in

the U.S.?
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302177

What a nightmare!