Enlarge image
The viper snake recovers after its long journey in the Berlin animal shelter
Photo: - / dpa
She didn't want these vegetables for lunch after all: on Saturday, a customer discovered a line in a Berlin supermarket in a shrink-wrapped broccoli package.
The store management called the fire brigade, who handed the unopened packaging over to the police, according to "Bild".
The Berlin animal shelter is now nursing the snake, which apparently traveled from Spain to Germany in the broccoli packaging.
"A police officer actually came to us with a broccoli in hand and the viper snake was in there," said animal shelter spokeswoman Annette Rost to the German press agency.
There was probably enough oxygen and space for the approximately twelve centimeter long line in the packaging, said Rost.
"The viper snake is fine, but that can still change because the conditions on the long journey were extreme, and she must have been in a refrigerated transport."
more on the subject
Posse in Great Britain: Snake as mouth and nose protection is not allowed in the bus
Broccoli: a good hiding place?
The animal probably got into the packaging by accident.
“I've never heard of a snake that eats broccoli,” says Rost.
But broccoli offers a small snake a perfect hiding place from predators.
According to the shelter, the snake is still very young.
Viper snakes grow up to 80 centimeters long and are not poisonous.
The snake doesn't have a name yet, but it should be given one soon.
"As soon as she is healthy, we hope to be able to find a nice new home for her," said the spokeswoman.
The animal would have to remain under observation for a few days.
ptz / dpa