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.
The man(?) screamed . . .
Mr. Arachnid meet Mr. Shoe.
Here in AZ we just stomp on them and move on.
Hmmm. The scorpion is non-migratory. I wonder if it was carried by an unladen swallow?
No more will be crawling 'round . . .
He's imbedded in the ground . . .
Boris the spider . . .
Wasn't that from a Brit rock song?
I'm curious. What was the total number of specialized bureaucrats who arranged the capture, transportation, and assessment of this scorpion? Did any of them give it a kiss? I doubt if they'd be so careful and considerate if they arrested someone for quoting Winston Churchill on the subject of Muslims.
Us too. I wonder how many would go out of their way to save a human.
It’s a freakin’ BUG! Step on it!
Appallingly insensitive of the authorities to fail to shut down and evacuate the tube station in order to spare the poor creature such terrible stress. /s
Who calls the cops for a bug?! Just step on it and get on with your life.
Ditto!
Good grief, what a bunch of pussies. In Texas when we see scorpions or tarantulas, we just squash’em and move on.
For cry’in out loud.
The man screamed!? hahahahah, this is what men are coming to—worthless metro-sexuals.
Man screams when he sees a scorpion. The pussification of the modern world continues. Not to mention the fact that they called the “authorities” to handle it instead of stomping on it and going to work.
“unladen swallow”
That isn’t possible. ....
between 40 and 60 fps, isn’t it? :)
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