Russia Quarantines 20 Live Snakes Found in Traveler's Carry-On Luggage
Russia has had it with these Moscow-flying snakes on this Moscow-flying plane. While checking the carry-on luggage of a traveler who had recently arrived from Düsseldorf, airport employees discovered 20 live snakes of unspecified species, packed in jars and boxes tucked into a small bag. Upon questioning, the man revealed that he had purchased the non-venomous reptiles at a market in Germany, the Environmental Protection Agency in Moscow said Tuesday.
Surprisingly, transporting live snakes in hand baggage isn't illegal in Germany, a spokesperson said on behalf of the German police, although necessary documentation is required. And Russia requires incoming snakes hold additional health-related documents, including veterinarian reports. Since the unnamed traveler did not possess the requisite paperwork, his sibilant companions were placed in quarantine in Moscow.
Don't worry about becoming the next Samuel L. Jackson in the US; the vast majority of American carriers do not allow "unusual or exotic" pets on board in passenger cabins, which usually excludes reptiles.
