Whilst helping my elderly mother with her daily care – in her house in Paignton (South Devon) – Gee discovered a Slow Worm crawling into the kitchen from the outside back-garden. Apparently, the “Carers” who visit on a daily basis when we are not here – state that they are forever finding Slow Warms crawling-in – and gently picking them up and returning them to the outside environment. Slow Warms are “legless lizards” and their Latin name is “Anguis Fragilis”. They live throughout Western Eurasia.
We think there is a colony in the back-garden as they are protected by Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) – meaning it is “illegal” to disturb these animals. Slow Worms may not be killed or injured for any reason – and wild Slow Worms are not usually to be taken as pets. In the wild, Slow Worms can live up to 15-20 years – but in captivity a Slow Worm has reliably lived to 54-years (recorded in Copenhagen Zoo). We think this is a male – as Slow Worms are waking-up and coming-out of hibernation – seeking to eat and breed. This Slow Warm was placed safely back in the grass!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 