Just for the record, I happened to come across such an article in the local press in Southern France few years ago (about 10 years ago actually). The guy who killed the snakes and presented them as trophies in this local newspaper was eventually fined for several thousands euros.

The journalist, who presented the snake killer as a hero for keeping the people from harm by killing these dangerous vipers (which actually where 1 grass snake and 2 whip snakes, the picture of the dead snakes was published in the newspaper) later apologized in the newspaper, and we, together with my colleague Gilles Pottier, had the opportunity to write an article about snakes in the same newspaper, saying it was illegal to kill them, and how to differentiate properly colubrids from viperids.

So, for this similar story occurring in Spain, I think that local authorities should be contacted by Spanish conservationists and that they pay a visit to these civil guards and simply fine them. And maybe ask a local newspaper to write an accurate article about the story, in order to inform people. That'll be great.

And Thanx Matt for sharing this story, it's just crazy that in 2010, year of Biodiversity, we still read such articles.