Toy Snake Triggers Cobra Panic in Carrington Park
A harmless plastic toy snake caused a major stir in the Newcastle suburb of Carrington last week, after residents mistook it for a dangerous cobra. The incident unfolded on Friday when a local posted in a Facebook group about spotting a snake near a playground in Connolly Park, sparking widespread concern and online speculation.
The resident wrote, "Almost stepped on this snake! Just on the path through the park near tennis courts. Anyone know what sort of snake this is?" This prompted numerous attempts from group members to identify the serpent, with fears escalating that a venomous reptile was on the loose in the area.
Misidentification Leads to Community Alarm
However, the situation was quickly clarified as a case of mistaken identity. The "snake" was actually a toy belonging to two-year-old Arthur O'Connor, who had been waving it around during a walk with his mother. Arthur accidentally dropped the plastic snake on the path, leading unsuspecting passersby to believe it was a real threat.
This false alarm came just days after another snake sighting in Newcastle, where a massive diamond python was photographed on the King Street median strip in the CBD. That reptile, measuring two metres, slithered away before snake catcher Bronte could arrive to handle it.
Snake Catcher Comments on Common False Alarms
Bronte, a local snake catcher, noted that such incidents are not unusual in her line of work. She explained, "It's not uncommon for me to get calls from people saying they have a brown snake or tiger snake and instead it's a blue-tongue lizard. I got called out for a red-belly in a pool filter... it turned out to be a kid's hat."
Regarding the Carrington cobra scare, Bronte expressed relief that it was not a real snake, as cobras are both highly venomous and illegal to keep as pets in Australia. She added, "As exciting as that would be for my day, they are fast and incredibly dangerous."
The event highlights how easily everyday objects can be misinterpreted, leading to community-wide alerts. Residents of Carrington can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the "cobra" was nothing more than a child's toy, though it served as a reminder to stay vigilant in snake-prone areas.
