A REPTILE expert has condemned the killing of an adder - a protected species - in Stroud. A member of the public reported finding the body of the snake. It appeared to have been repeatedly hit. The incident on 3 April was reported to Gloucestershire Police. The location of the attack is not being released to the public to prevent adders being targeted in the area. Dr Angela Julian, coordinator of Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, condemned the attack. "We were deeply saddened to learn of this horrible incident, which is a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which prohibits the intentional killing and injuring of our native adders," said Dr Julian.