News: 2 die in rock python attack

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Originally Posted by pythonminion

Still under investigation.

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Thanks for that update. Let's hope that the Canadian authorities are wise enough to consult with actual python experts before placing the blame firmly on the snake, (a scenario many of us regard as doubtful at best).

S

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Originally Posted by Slitherous

Thanks for that update. Let's hope that the Canadian authorities are wise enough to consult with actual python experts before placing the blame firmly on the snake, (a scenario many of us regard as doubtful at best).

S

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Actually I think the fact that they are still investigating means they are doing just that. I think, with the publicity and public outcry, it would have been easy for them to just place all the blame on the snake and go for "quick justice." I admire the RCMP for taking their time on this.

Thanks for the update. I have a feeling that this was a case of foul play, too many things just don't add up.

Well, the news media is at it again. This is unrelated to the alleged "python attack" in New Brunswick, but it is just as skewed and mis-informative as that story was. Here is a story airing today on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/us/new...nn-disqus-area, which is a story about the legal travails of Snakeman's Exotics in New York state. Of course the fact that his animals were well-kept and healthy was mentioned but buried in the article, the headline was "850 snakes part of New York man's home business, authorities say", the news being that someone had 850 snakes at his home, (oh horrors of horrors!). At most the guy may have a few issues with zoning laws, but from what I can see the guy is a responsible herper. Why this deserves to make the national news obviously has nothing to do with husbandry, but everything to do with sensationalism. There was also another link to a news article about a ball python collection which was confiscated: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/16/world/...ons/index.html.

Folks, I fear the wolves are at the door. The powers of ignorance and bigotry are alive and well in North America!

S

I really wish people would do their own proper research before spewing garbage out of their mouths...

Makes me crazy to hear someone say, "Oh, just wait til that snake gets older, it's gonna eat you in your sleep."

The media takes these animals and paints them as monsters. Sad, but the animals are the ones who mostly suffer from this. And that makes me even more sad.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/review-...mier-1.1463169

Thanks for the update. I noticed the article DID NOT say "allegedly" killed by a python, just "killed by a python". At least we know the police are still investigating. I took a year of journalism classes in college, and have yet to see anything written about this incident that I would call journalistic; makes me wonder if the news media there know the definition of the word.

S

Last month I was at a small aquarium with an exhibit of several large burms and retics. The guy doing the snake demo talked about how dangerous these animals are and told everyone there about the 'Burmese python" in Canada that had recently killed two children.

When the supposed expert is giving this spiel to tourists three times a day...

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Originally Posted by Libby

Last month I was at a small aquarium with an exhibit of several large burms and retics. The guy doing the snake demo talked about how dangerous these animals are and told everyone there about the 'Burmese python" in Canada that had recently killed two children.

When the supposed expert is giving this spiel to tourists three times a day...

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"Supposed" expert is correct. Most zoos and aquariums train docents in the "no-one-but-zoos-should-keep-exotics" mentality, (as espoused by the AAZPA, Humane Society, PETA, etc). Some expert, doesn't even know the difference between a Burm and an African Rock. Truth is a large python can be dangerous, but the circumstances surrounding the incident in New Brunswick doesn't add up to death by python in my opinion; something else happened in that house. In the meantime the news media will go with the sensational headline before the facts every time.



S

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Originally Posted by Slitherous

"Supposed" expert is correct. Most zoos and aquariums train docents in the "no-one-but-zoos-should-keep-exotics" mentality, (as espoused by the AAZPA, Humane Society, PETA, etc). Some expert, doesn't even know the difference between a Burm and an African Rock. Truth is a large python can be dangerous, but the circumstances surrounding the incident in New Brunswick doesn't add up to death by python in my opinion; something else happened in that house. In the meantime the news media will go with the sensational headline before the facts every time.

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Agree with you on all points. I should mention the speaker wasn't a docent. It was a VERY small facility and the staff who care for the animals and dive in the tanks show the guests around.

I'm still a newbie, but I was also unimpressed with the husbandry. There were two crowded enclosures, both had multiple snakes in them. (Is it ok to house more than one Burmese or Retic together? Like I said, I'm pretty new.) I don't know what the temps/humidity were like, but at least one snake looked like it had had a really bad shed.

To be completely fair, the staff seemed to really care about the animals and were very protective of the ones that were brought out for interaction with the public (a Burm and a baby gator). They also mentioned that some of the large snakes had come from private owners who were no longer able to care for them, and the patchy ones MAY have arrived there that way. Or not.