Lost snake back home after two-month disappearance

The snake has been renamed Houdini after his disappearing act

A pet snake that sneaked out of its cage and escaped through an upstairs window. has been found nearly two months later.

Red-tailed boa Zeus has been renamed Houdini by owner Craig Wadham after his daring escape, which involved crossing two rooms, climbing a floating staircase and scaling furniture to reach a window.

Mr Wadham, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, had not seen the snake since 21 July, but on Thursday, a neighbour was stunned to see the boa wriggling down the street.

"We were hyped [to have him home]. We were properly elated that he came back," said Mr Wadham.

The snake was captured after it was spotted in the street

"Unfortunately most snakes that you lose that you don't find again, ever."

Zeus was caught using a pillow case and a large box before being taken to a local animal specialist who checked it over and reunited with its owner.

Neighbour Laura Jolly Yan said: "Skyla, who looked after my daughter in nursery, came to the door and said 'Is that your snake' and I was like 'Sorry, what now?'

"It was very much in the middle of the road. People were almost blocking to make sure no car came up to run it over

"It's quite a commotion; people going past and all getting very excited about it."

Residents caught the snake and took it to a specialist

Zeus lived with "his missus" Gaia before going missing.

When he dropped from the first-floor window, he landed in in a bush before his owners lost track of him.

Although snakes can live for months without food, they do require water, and Mr Wadham suspects Zeus drank from puddles or the dew from grass.

Ali Lawes, manager of pet shop Animaltastic, said the snake was in good condition, considering its long period outdoors.

She said: "It had a few little thorns in it where it had gone through some bushes, but apart from that it was in in pretty good condition, really.

"You could tell it been well looked after by the owner."

Eight people had claimed the boa had belonged to them, but Mr Wadham was the only one who could answer "simple questions" about where it came from and provide photos of him with it.

"They are worth a bit of money and also they are very pretty snakes. But nonetheless, we are very strict with who takes the animals home," Ms Lawes explained.