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And the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port of Spain is reminding citizens to call its rescue hotline, 800-4ZOO, to report any snake encounters.

This is part of the zoo’s Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Programme.Four macajuel or boa constrictor snakes, the largest measuring ten feet long, were rescued by zoo officials in the past week.

The reptiles will be rehabilitated and released into non-populated areas, the zoo stated.

“Such rehabilitation includes dipping the snakes in a cypertic mixture to remove any external parasites; feeding if the snake is observed to be in need of a meal; and, lastly, a vet check-up to ensure that the snake is in optimal health for release,” it added.

The Emperor Valley Zoo has welcomed four rainbow boa snake babies. The snakes were born last Friday to a female rainbow boa. According to a Facebook post from the zoo, all four snakes are alert, active and progressing well.

The rainbow boa is also known as the velvet mapepire and is one of Trinidad and Tobago's local snake species. According to the University of the West Indies, the reptile grows to a maximum length of 4 feet in males and 4.5 to 5 feet in females.

It's non-venomous and plays an important role as it helps maintain a balance in the environment by feeding on rats and other small animals. When startled, it can slither away for safety or rely firstly on a chemical defence in which strong odorous material is released from the anal gland to ward of predators.

This is followed by biting, the snake would initiate a sequence of biting to keep the predator at a particular distance. If the snake realizes that it has been overpowered, it would curl up in a defensive ball.