Police remove venomous viper from east-end home

Toronto police have removed an illegal venomous snake from a home in east-end Toronto.

Police were called to an address near Queen Street East and Greenwood Avenue on Thursday on an unrelated matter. During their investigation of a third-floor apartment, they found two glass tanks holding five snakes, including a 4-foot long East African Gaboon Viper — known for having the longest fangs in the snake world.

Toronto Zoo officials came to the scene and removed the venomous snake. The 6-kg female snake is now under the care of zoo officials.

Bob Johnson, the zoo’s head curator of reptiles, said even animal experts at the zoo don’t like to get close to the Gaboon Viper. Johnson doesn’t understand why anyone would want to keep one as a pet.

"That potential danger is tremendous," he said. "The only thing that would save your life if you were bitten is anti-venom."

Keeping a venomous snake as a pet is illegal in the City of Toronto and most municipalities, but there are no province-wide rules.

The owners of the viper snake were not home when Global News attempted to contact them. They face a maximum penalty of $5,000.