Horrified tourists have pledged to cancel their holidays in Ibiza after huge snakes were seen swimming in the water following sweltering 30C temperatures
Tourists in Ibiza have been left “too terrified to swim” after huge snakes of up to 6ft were spotted in the popular holiday destination’s waters. With recent temperatures soaring above 30C in Spain, large snakes have been spotted in the waters of the coastal resorts on the island.
The latest shock came for two people who were sailing in an inflatable boat in the area of Portinatx, north of Ibiza. They were surprised to find snakes nearly 6ft long in the sea. One horrified tourist posted on social media: “Tremendous…… The number of snakes there are, I’m already terrified of taking a dip…. Who would have thought this about 20 years ago…. It seems that a curse weighs, in the once paradisiacal and quiet IBIZA.”
The couple who captured the 5.7ft snake have posted a video to show its length and expressed their surprise at the find. Another video posted shows snakes, which are an invasive species on Ibiza, swimming in the sea.
“I didn’t know snakes could swim!” they said. The presence of snakes on islands has been confirmed, including on the island of Illot de s’Ora, where the snakes have wiped out the entire population of lizards, even causing the disappearance of a subspecies.
Despite not being poisonous, it is common for snakes to take to the sea, according to experts. Doctor in Biological Sciences, Antònia Maria Cirer said in other territories of the country it will be more difficult to see them in the water, but not in places like Ibiza, where it is common for them to end up taking refuge in boats located on land in winter.
“When the boat is then returned to the sea, the snakes leave and swim away until they reach the nearest point on land. It’s his instinct. This situation causes a general alarm throughout the territory,” he said.
Some residents are suggesting the snake invasion is now at crisis point and urgent action has to be taken following years of warnings.
Snake finds are currently soaring on Ibiza where hundreds of traps have been set to try and control the explosion. There are daily reports of snakes being found on country roads and in fields. Some holidaymakers have even said they are cancelling their holidays because of their fear of snakes.
One bemused hiker found a note on a tree branch, with a jug of water for the snakes “because they will get thirsty in this hot weather!” I don’t know which is worse, the invasion of snakes or the invasion of stupid humans,” he said.