Pythons in the news again
January 3rd, 2007 by admin
On Friday, a 15-foot Burmese python was discovered in the closet of an empty apartment in North Miami Beach. A previous tenant had left the animal behind. The fire department was called to catch the python. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Captain Al Cruz told the Miami Herald: “It’s important to show kids that these animals can get very big. They should know that before they decide to keep them as pets.”
Although pythons are not venomous, they can be very dangerous, as was clear in an incident on Saturday at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium. During the daily snake presentation, a 14-foot python named “Chloe” bit 18-year-old handler Alison Cobianchi. The snake then wrapped herself around the handler’s arm and waist and tried to pull the handler into her cage. The incident made national news.
Police were called and the snake was shocked with a Taser before releasing the aquarium employee. Ms. Cobianchi, who suffered puncture wounds on her hand, said “It was definitely the most scary and painful thing that has ever happened to me.” The snake was not seriously hurt by the stun gun. The aquarium’s snake show has been canceled indefinitely.