Thieves target snakes and iguana

A four-foot iguana was among the pets stolen

Thieves who broke into a shop in Ballymena have made off with several exotic pets.

Several cages in the shop were opened and their contents either stolen or released.

Among the creatures taken were two ring-tailed lemurs, one of them pregnant, a number of snakes and a four-foot green iguana.

Police believe the premises at Linenhall Street were broken into between 1800 BSt on Tuesday and 0830 on Wednesday.

A 24-year-old man has been charged in connection with the thefts and is due to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday.

One of the lemurs answers to the name of Larry, and does not have a tail.

The pregnant lemur, Olivia, is described as being shy.

The lemurs are rare in Northern Ireland and examples are known to be found at only two other locations, one of them Belfast Zoo.

Among the snakes are two albino granite Burmese pythons and two tiger pythons, each about 18 to 24 inches long.

A four-foot finolin milk snake was also taken.

None of the snakes is poisonous, nor are they likely to be very active in the current cold weather.