Burmese python inncident

[Vulpes]

Im sure most of you have read about the terrible story of the child in Florida being killed by the familys pet burmese python. I just came across this picture of the snake. Now to me (who has kept big snakes for over 20 years) that snake looks too small to pose any danger even to a 2 year old child. I would like to hear other snake experts opinion on this.

In my experience a snake will not attempt to constrict anything that is too big to eat! I Believe this snake was about 8'! Ive seen 18' back away from rabbits that were too big to eat.

Im going to throw a spanner in the works here and question whether or not the police should be looking for another murder suspect?

 

[ZYBen]

That doesnt even look big enough to eat a cat! let alone a child.

 

[Sun Wukong]

Even a snake this size does have considerable strength-and especially when in an "ideal" position (i.e. around the neck), this would be sufficient to kill a child.

Sometimes snakes do try to kill and eat prey that is too large for them to consume. Additionally, they also constrict when feeling cornered and/or stressed. Try grabbing an angry python of this size behind the head and handle it clumsily-you will soon feel a certain "pressure" when it constricts around your arm...

 

[James27]

I agree with sun, whilst it could never swallow a kid it could easily kill it especially if it got the child around the neck. They're mighty strong.

 

[Hix]

Especially if the child was pulling at the part of the snake around the neck - the snake would just tighten it's grip.

 

[Vulpes]

I do agree with you but after you let go of the neck the snake will release its grip! To be honest I was expecting something over 14' to kill a two year old child! A new born; fair enough but even a new born child is considerably larger than a prey item of a snake that size. I am guessing that snake is on large rats or small rabbits.

check this out

 

[JerseyLotte]

There is no conspiracy to be found in this case.

A large bodied Boid such as a Burmese Python is more than capable and this sized specimen was more than capable of killing a 2yr old girl sadly.

 

[Theloderma]

Definately agree with Jerseylotte on this one. In very general terms, heavy bodied boids over 2m in length have the potential to really mess up your day! I have a colleague whos fingers turned blue after a 90cm Sawu python tightened up on his hand. Extrapolate the size of that and put the snake around your neck (for example) and there is real potential for accidental asphyxiation. Many boid owners seem to forget that their 'pet' is actually a very effective predator with no ability to distinguish between food and small child.

 

[JerseyLotte]

I forgot to mention, in my experience and opinion, any given snake may readily strike and attempt to subdue prey much too large for it, it is an ingrained opportunistic behaviour.

check this out

As a reference point the Burm in the picture above would certainly be capable of a fatal attack on me for instance, I'm 5'9" well built and was a shot putter at school . In the wrong situation, alone, against an animal with a drive to constrict and kill switched on those things mean nothing.

These animals are much more powerful than you think, a good coil on your torso or neck and you can forget even beginning to unwrap an 8'+ burm alone, you physically do not have the strength to pull an animal that large, that unwieldy and that determined to place immense pressure on your body, away from yourself. For a start, your arms are not long enough !

I'm a private and a professional keeper of 10 years, I'm happier with a pair of rear fanged venomous in my house than I ever would be with a large Boid.