So Disgusted ( saw a horrendous TV show tonight)

[artgecko]

Tonight I was clicking around and saw a show on animal planet "worlds biggest pets". First segment was on a dude keeping a buffalo in his house, second, was a giant rabbit, but the third featured a burmese python at (supposedly) 16' and about 120lbs. What was horrendous, is how they played up how dangerous it was, how the owner obvisouly didn't know how to handle a large snake safely, and most-of-all how they made up a fact about it.. the claim was "pythons smaller than her have suffocated and EATEN their owners". It just disgusts me how they can make up "facts" out of the air with such an obvious agenda... They emphasized the danger of the python MORE than the danger of having a buffalo in your house. *sigh* There's even a lovely segment with the snake striking her (and biting) at the vet's where they claim that the wound will require immediate medical attention. The owner was obviously not experienced with large snakes (didn't even use a hook), so it was all a lesson on how not to handle a large snake.

I found a copy of the full show on youtube, so if you would care to watch, the python segment is at 16:31.

Just thought I would vent and share. :/

[Sauzo]

While I agree on most of it, just because he didn't use a snake hook doesn't make him inexperienced. I never have used a hook on my Rosey my 6' BCI. If the snake knows you and you don't reach in face first and grab the snake out of the blue, there is no reason it should bite you out of the blue. 90% of the time I can reach in fine and just grab Rosey. Its just when she's in shed that she gets cranky and during those times, if I need to take her out for whatever reason, I will always pet her back 1/2 to let her know im there. She will usually perk up and sniff the air with her tongue and once she catches my scent, she just lays back down and lets me do whatever I need to do. I saw a video on YouTube of a guy with a huge retic who doesn't use a hook either and just lets it out to wander around. Now don't get wrong, any large snake that you aren't comfortable with or know, you should definitely use a hook unless you just got big cojones or want to possible get one heck of a bite. I don't think I've seen a snake show yet that shows snakes in a good light except an Anaconda show I saw on one of those channels. It actually made them out to be fairly calm snakes once they get big. Said something about along with the size comes confidence so they mellow out. But you're right, most shows seem to make them all out as evil creatures that specifically search out humans to eat which is rather funny as most snakes would rather get away from humans.

[Reinz]

Shame on animal planet. They should be more responsible. I guess that is one of the reasons I quit watching them years ago.

[reptileexperts]

sad. The owner has extremely well kept facilities it would appear, and takes great care of the animals. But of course they are demonized and she is playing it up - I don't think she really feels the way it shows her feeling. I'm guessing its almost all scripted.

And that Burmese is maybe 13' . . . sigh . . . more propaganda to hurt the community at any cost.

[artgecko]

Sauzo- Did you watch the clip? It wasn't just that she didn't use a hook, she approached the snake incorrectly and wasn't using typical handling protocall.. It came off very much like she was "terrified" and nervous around her own snake.

reptilexperts- I agree.. Her other enclosures and everything were great... I'm just wondering if she really don't need to have a giant snake. It appears as if she doesn't have very willing people to help with the snake (which isn't good with a snake that size) and she just doesn't seem confident. I hope it was scripted, but who would want to make their pet out to be a scary monster? I compared it, with my husband, to a handling video by Kevin McCurly and he agreed (he is not a snake person btw) that the snake community would have been much better served by someone that knows how to handle correctly.. Of course, that wouldn't have been as dramatic. :/

[bcr229]

She was probably an actress, and most likely it wasn't her snake. Hence the "scripted" part.

Animal Planet is a joke. At best it's infotainment, at worst it's yellow journalism on the goggle box.

My life improved immensely after I dumped CATV & DISH.

[artgecko]

Yeah... I hardly ever watch it. We actually don't watch much TV, I was just clicking around and happened across it.

[Sauzo]

Nah Artgecko, I didn't watch it, I generally don't watch that stuff as most of it is depressing and just casts constrictors in a bad light as purely killing machines that just will seek you out and kill you just because they can. I thought you were just making a general statement about people not using hooks are inexperienced, I apologize.

[artgecko]

No problem. I'm sorry you took it that way. There were many, many things wrong with how she was handling the snake, the hook was the least of the issues (but easiest to explain in a post).

[Citrus]

This is animal planet, the network for animals with several non animal related shows such as tree house bladders and the pool blaster. If I wanted to be lied to by a television network I would unblock Fox News.


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