The dumped Redruth snake that started a Cornwall reptile rescue

She was found dumped in Redruth in March, badly underweight, and nobody knew if she would survive. Six months on, the rat snake called Chilli is the reason Cornwall has an award-winning reptile rescue.

📷Chilli the rat snake. Credit: Emily, Wild Coast Colubrids

A snake nobody expected to make it

Wild Coast Colubrids is a reptile and wildlife rescue based in Cornwall. It opened in March 2026, and Chilli was one of its first cases.

“She was severely emaciated and in extremely poor condition when she came into our care, and at that point we genuinely didn’t know what her outcome would be,” said founder Emily.

Chilli needed a carefully managed rehabilitation and refeeding process. Over the months that followed she slowly regained weight, strength and normal behaviour.

“She is now completely unrecognisable compared with the snake that first arrived and has become one of our permanent residents,” Emily said. “For me, Chilli represents exactly why the rescue exists.”

Emily had wanted to run a reptile rescue for years. She said Chilli was one of the cases that made her realise she needed to stop thinking of it as something she might do one day.

Not every case ends the same way. Duke died as a result of the neglect he suffered in his previous home, Emily said. Sid, a corn snake, died from the emaciation he arrived in.

📷Founder Emily (centre) with deputy team leads Hollie (left) and Rhi (right)

More than 60 animals in six months

Since opening, the rescue says it has helped more than 60 reptiles and wildlife casualties. It has built a team of volunteers, attended community events and educational visits, and responded to wildlife incidents, including a recent gull rescue carried out by volunteer Chrissie.

Emily runs the rescue with her fiancée and co-founder Oliwia, alongside team lead Sophie and deputy team leads Hollie and Rhi.

The volunteer network covers most of Cornwall for reptile rescue, surrender and wildlife response. Some reptiles have come from further afield, including Devon.

The rescue takes in snakes, lizards, tortoises and other reptiles, depending on space and its ability to meet their needs. It also helps native wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and transfers to specialist organisations.

Wild Coast Colubrids is an independent, volunteer-run rescue. It is not a registered charity or CIC.

Emily has around 10 years of reptile keeping experience and holds Level 3 qualifications in Animal Management, Reptile Studies, Animal Welfare and Nursing, and Wildlife Rehabilitation.

📷The rescue's biggest surrender to date: 14 snakes at once, 13 royal pythons and one corn snake

Fourteen snakes at once, and gulls in the bathroom

The rescue’s biggest single surrender so far was 14 snakes at once. Thirteen were royal pythons and one was a corn snake.

The wildlife work has been just as hands-on. This season the team turned a bathroom into a nursery and rehabilitated six gulls, with support from Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital. A chick named Abbie is among the birds it has rehabilitated.

It also helped transfer a vixen to a rehab centre after she was found on a beach, limp and not moving.

“One of my favourite wildlife stories is the owl who I stayed up all night with to feed him and monitor him,” Emily said. The owl was then transferred on for further care.

📷Emily and her fiancée and co-founder Oliwia at the Animal Star Awards

A regional award

The rescue has now been named UK Animal Rescue Of The Year for the Southwest Region at the 2026 Animal Star Awards.

“The award honestly means a huge amount to all of us,” Emily said. “We are still such a young rescue, so to have the work of our entire team recognised at a regional level this early on was quite overwhelming.

“Everyone involved gives so much of their own time to these animals, and it felt like recognition not just for us but for the reptiles and wildlife that often get overlooked.”

📷Sid, a corn snake who died from the emaciation he arrived in

Why reptiles end up in rescue

Emily said the reasons vary enormously. Some owners have a real change in circumstances and can no longer care for an animal. Others arrive because of incorrect husbandry, unsuitable housing, lack of heating or UVB, poor diet, neglect, or because their needs were misunderstood when they were bought.

“Reptile keeping has changed enormously over the years and there is still a lot of outdated information around,” she said.

The rescue hands out education packs for children at events and gives talks on both reptiles and wildlife. Emily said wildlife is often just as misunderstood as reptiles, “especially gulls”.

Thinking of getting a reptile?

The rescue’s advice is to research the following before bringing one home:

• Adult size and lifespan
• Enclosure requirements
• Heating and lighting
• Diet
• Veterinary costs

Most reptiles live between 10 and 30 years, Emily said, and tortoises can live for more than 50.

“They should never be seen as a short term or low maintenance pet,” she said.

She also encourages people to look at reputable rescues when thinking about adding a reptile to their family.

📷A vixen found limp and not moving on a beach, who the rescue helped transfer to a rehab centre

What to do if you find one

If you find an injured or abandoned reptile, the rescue advises securing it only if it is safe to do so, keeping it somewhere secure, and contacting a reptile rescue or vet for advice. Do not try to feed or treat it yourself.

For injured wildlife, contact an experienced wildlife rescue, rehabilitation centre or veterinary practice as soon as possible. The right response varies depending on the species and the injury.

📷Team lead Sophie (centre) with deputy team leads Hollie and Rhi

How to help

People can support Wild Coast Colubrids by donating, volunteering, sharing its work, attending its community events and educational sessions, or offering a home to one of its reptiles when they become available for adoption. Donations go towards veterinary treatment, food, heating, enclosures and rehabilitation costs.

The rescue can be reached by email at [email protected], by phone on 07745 160181, or on Facebook at Wild Coast Colubrids Reptile & Wildlife Rescue.

Its website is offline while it is rebuilt.

📷Chilli the rat snake. Credit: Emily, Wild Coast Colubrids

📷A recent gull rescue carried out by volunteer Chrissie

📷The rescue turned a bathroom into a nursery and rehabbed six gulls this season, with support from Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital

📷Young gulls in the rescue's care

📷Abbie, a chick the rescue rehabbed

📷The owl Emily stayed up all night with to feed and monitor

📷The owl Emily stayed up all night with to feed and monitor

📷Emily and Oliwia collecting the award at the Animal Star Awards

📷Emily and her fiancée and co-founder Oliwia

📷Chilli the rat snake, now one of the rescue's permanent residents. Credit: Emily, Wild Coast Colubrids