Posted on 05/02/2014 1:01:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A dangerous scorpion shocked passengers as it nipped into a Tube station and tried to pinch a ride on a man’s bag.
The man screamed when he saw it clinging to his bag at Victoria Underground station in central London.
London Underground staff were quickly on hand after hearing the commotion, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
They managed to capture the scorpion and placed it in a plastic lunchbox, which they pierced with air holes, while they called the police.
Specialist wildlife crime officers from BTP went to the station to remove the creature, which had been put on a shelf in the station manager’s office.
Pc Mike Charnick, said: “There is a surprisingly wide range of wildlife on and around the railway network but this is the first time I’ve come across a scorpion.
“Station staff did a great job containing the animal and keeping it safe until we arrived.
“I contacted London Zoo and made arrangements to take the animal there to be assessed.”
Keepers specialising in invertebrates safely housed it and contacted experts at the Natural History Museum to check exactly what type of scorpion it was.
It has been identified as a Centruroides – a potentially dangerous species – which may have come from the Caribbean.
Dave Clarke, bugs team leader at ZSL London Zoo, said: “It is bizarre that this species was found in somewhere like Victoria station. We have been keeping the arachnid safely and securely whilst establishing an exact identification of the creature.
“The scorpion really is a beautiful animal and it’s a shame that it has been exposed to such a stressful situation.”
The passenger who discovered the scorpion had been sitting in a park all day. He did not leave a name or any contact details so officers have been unable to work out where he picked it up. No passengers were at risk during the incident, which happened in the evening of Sunday, April 6.
You’re obviously no King.
Go back to your filth, bloody peasant!
LoL,
“oh, hark at him!”
“You can tell he’s not one of us, not covered in mud! Hmmmm!”
Thwack
“Help Help I’m being repressed, ,,,, blo*dy Norman”
Thwack
“There he goes again! “
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