News article U.K.

[richardhind1972]

That sucks, and with the way the UK is, if it doesn't stop they'll ban keeping.

Fingers crossed it won’t result in that, there’s plenty of rescue centre to adopt these animals rather than releasing them into the wild where none of these tropical species would overwinter outside as all our native species hibernate.
instead of genuine reptile people getting more bad press

[Bogertophis]

I guess people are "the same everywhere"...some just get pets for the wrong reasons (showing off comes to mind) and are too irresponsible to even
place them when they no longer want them. It's not just snakes, but so many fear snakes that any loose ones get sensationalized in the press.
Nor do they care or understand the harm they do to wild populations.