Austrian admits making up story to get rid of snake

VIENNA, July 27:An Austrian applauded for capturing a 2.3-metre boa constrictor he said he discovered on a riverbank has admitted he made up the story to get rid of a pet snake he found too big to handle, an animal rescue group said on Thursday. �It turns out he could not get to grips with the snake and wanted to get rid of it this way,� said Susanne Hemetsberger, head of the Austrian Animal Protection Association. The owner handed over the reptile to an animal shelter. (agencies)