Wow.. I dont even know what to say about this..

I came upon this picture on a search to show a friend exactly how an adult burmese looks.. and this is what i found. I cant believe they let that little girl stand there alone with that huge snake's heading facing her like that. I swear.. if it felt even a LIIIIITLE threatened it would've been over for her..and again..burms and snakes in general would get a bad or even worse rap than they already have. :angered:

http://www.fhtimes.com/times/2002arc...-02/Python.jpg

Well there is one guy standing right behind the table, and you can't see the entire scene. Still, I hope this animal was chosen for it's docility.

SAME HERE !!! I was taken down by one at my school when I was 6 ... I still have scars ... I was 3 feet tall and it was 10 feet long... I was actualy going to be it's snack! They had to put it down right then and there.

Adult burms are extremely docile especially one that does shows. I was in nearly the same situation when I was 6, not a problem. Also that angle makes it look dangerous.

I feel like a dumb S**T... I just called my mom to ask her what it was that tryed eating me ... it was a Retic. My bad sorry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jessie_k_pythons

I feel like a dumb S**T... I just called my mom to ask her what it was that tryed eating me ... it was a Retic. My bad sorry

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lmao @ "tried eating me"... either way..snakes attack when they're hungry or scared.. either one could be extremely dangerous for that little girl. i just thought that was a crazy pic

Crazy, but damn that snake looks awesome!!!!!!

Lovely snake and darling little girl. Granted you can't see the whole scene but as a parent and someone who loves snakes, I still wouldn't allow my small child that close to that size of snake without me being in direct, hands on control of the snake at all times. Even with Rauri whose only just over 6 feet of BCI, we are always cautious with our 5 year old interacting with him. Not because Rauri is looking to eat Mikey and is generally a very laid back snake, but because little kids are jumpy and all that quick movement might trigger something. I'm not an expert just my way of dealing with small kids and snakes. I figure better safe than sorry.

the little girl looks like shes having fun...

how can you not with a giant burm right beside you? :D

I don't care how "docile" a large boid may have been in the past...I would take a more risk averse approach to managing an exhibition like that, especially when its someone else's kids at risk. Why not let the kids touch its tail and whatnot while someone else control the upper portion of its body? Just my .02

by the way, this is probably in the wrong forum....

Supervised situation + snake that is acclimated to children = what's the issue here, outside of the possible "coulda woulda you never know?"

You'd be surprised at how gentle big Burms can be, especially in the hands of someone who knows that animal & is responsible in presenting said animal in an educational situation. Yes, I know that NO animal is ever 100% trustworthy in *every* *single* *situation*, but by the same token, well-acclimated Burms (and by well-acclimated I mean used to high-stimuli environments, as this obviously is) can be fabulous representatives for both their species & herps in general when it comes to educational opportunities.

If anything, I'd be saying "WTF?!!?" over the lack of a guardian-related adult holding this child's hand, before I'd worry about the Burm. Kids scare me more than snakes...

Just my $2.00 (fuel surcharge included)...

K~

im not saying its a good idea just that people enjoy(mostly) big snakes:oops:

I moved it to the Giant Python forum.


As for the picture, it really is too little to judge on, I believe. It appears that the snake's handler is standing right beside it. And it even appears that the little girl's mother (or someone) may be holding her hand. You don't know that there isn't an adult right there with her. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jessie_k_pythons

SAME HERE !!! I was taken down by one at my school when I was 6 ... I still have scars ... I was 3 feet tall and it was 10 feet long... I was actualy going to be it's snack! They had to put it down right then and there.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jessie_k_pythons

I feel like a dumb S**T... I just called my mom to ask her what it was that tryed eating me ... it was a Retic. My bad sorry

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Really? When & where was this? Curiosity overwhelms me...

K~

That's always my worry Kara, not so much what the snake might do but after having 4 kids I surely do not trust how fast as small kid can move and how unpredictible they are. I'm the same when my kids or any small kid approaches a dog, even a known one, I'm really watchful for problems mostly started by the kid.

just a point although it could be extemely invalid.... that girl could have been photoshopped in. take a close look at the pic, i'm not saying that it was just that it could have been.

I agree with Kara on this one.
We do many Educational Programs and always bring a large Burmese Python, As long as she is in the right time of her feeding and shedding schedule.
I too have a bit more trust in the snake I have worked with for a long time, over my trust for the children.
I have seen some kids do very very strange things, pinch try and lick and grab a good hold on some of the animals.
We do keep handling to a minimum and only use animals that we have conditioned a bit to be used to the action that the kids might do.
Here is a shot from an education presentation done about a year or so ago.
Winslow & I are always hands on, and ensure everyone's safety ecspecially the snake.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/9/5/5/1119.jpg

That's an awesome picture, Rusty! I love what you guys do for the reptile world!! :love:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KLG

Really? When & where was this? Curiosity overwhelms me...

K~

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Lakeview Elementary School in Lakeside CA, Mis Arstion's Class 1991 or 1992 I dont remember right off hand.

I added the teachers name and dates so you can look it up. It was in the local news paper. All I remember was reaching for the snake and it grabed my sholder and neck and spun me like a top, it started squeezing me and broke 4 ribs both colar bones, my right arm in 3 places, and pinched 3 nerves in my back and neck. it took 6 people to get it off of me. I was really lucky. Some time if I get the nerve .. I will post photos of my scars. But Im really not to fond of doing it at this time.

Hmmm...still searching for the newspaper info.

And it was a big albino retic that grabbed you?

In regards to Jessica's experience.
WOW! A retic grabbed you :grouphug: and you lived to talk about it?
Holy Molly :rolleye2:

You should have been toast, but six peoples strength and thinking saved you. Goes to show how strong these beauts are!
BUT, I agree will KLG and others that they are pretty docile especially when being used to such settings. I used to visit an extremely docile retic and burm that lived at our local fauna society and these girls where like teddy bears! I love them all but adult supervision is a must when children are in the enclosures. Like a lot of other people said we do not see the whole picture.

By no means am I being sarcastic- I know the physical and emotional scars will last a life time. It is good that you are still involved in reptiles. Some people would have never looked back. I am truly Sorry to hear about your bad experience with a big guy. Was it a feeding issue or temperment of the snake that was involved?

Just my .02

-D

i'm soooo glad you lived to tell your story! :grouphug:

as for this pic, you really can't see the whole situation but as a mama, i wouldn't let my kid be the one getting excited near it's head. :pinkele:

now, onto the second pic... look at the eyes of the little girl in the blue skirt :eek: reminds me of myself before i got used to my first snake a mere 8 months ago!!!

[QUOTE=now, onto the second pic... look at the eyes of the little girl in the blue skirt :eek: reminds me of myself before i got used to my first snake a mere 8 months ago!!![/QUOTE]

That girl is probably more scared of My husband then of the snake...lol
Don't let him know I said that.
Some of the kids shy away and we never force any of them to touch the reptiles, but by the end of our show all the kids end up having a hands on experience. Many of the adults that are scared in the beginning even come around in the end.
Rusty