A Viennese woman has told how she coolly handed a box with a venomous cobra she found at a park to an animal shelter.

The 31-year-old – who did not want to give her name – told press today (Weds) about yesterday's incident in Meidling district: "I spotted the carton box placed in the park's 'dog zone' when I walked my dog. I grabbed it, shook it – and noticed something inside was moving.

"I only then discovered handwritten notes on it saying: 'I'm not venomous anymore!' and 'Please feed me nothing but dead mice!'. I took the box and handed it over to staff at a nearby animal shelter," she added.