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Published Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 | 12:12 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 | 12:21 p.m.
A Las Vegas family taking care of an exotic snake avoided a tragedy Wednesday when an angry mother attacked an 18-foot reticulated python with a knife after the snake wrapped itself around her 3-year-old son.
Friends of the family had asked them to take care of the snake while they remodeled a business, where the python attracts plenty of attention, according to KTNV ABC-TV Channel 13, which first reported the incident.
Somehow the snake got loose in the family's home and it took six Metro Police officers, an animal control officer and an angry mother to pry the toddler away from the snake.
As the boy cried and began to turn blue, the mother attacked the snake with a knife. She was able to wrestle the child away from the snake's grip.
"It was gashes in that python beyond repair, so it was euthanized humanely," said Gordon Smith of the Lied Animal Shelter. One of the family's other snakes, a 14-foot-long python, was the next largest, he said. A snake the size of the one that attacked the boy can kill a full-grown human, he said.
Neither mother nor child were harmed. Police said no criminal charges will be filed since exotic snakes are allowed in private homes in Clark County, unless they are poisonous.
The snake's knife wounds were severe enough that the python had to be euthanized at the Lied Animal Shelter, where the family's five other -- and smaller -- snakes were also taken.
Reticulated pythons typically bite their prey first, then wrap themselves around and squeeze the life out of them.
One of the largest reticulated pythons in captivity was a 24-foot-long, 300-pound snake named Fluffy that once appeared on "The David Letterman Show."
The longest reticulated python, at 32 feet, 9.5 inches, was killed in Celebes, Indonesia, in 1912, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Bah,
That python is no more dangerous than a dog. The parents didn't leave a kid with the python. The python escaped its cage (odd considering it's winter and he should've been sleeping or inactive for a few months). The python probably roamed the house for a bit and found the kid. There is no reason to go criminalizing the parents over this.
Other than the snake, no one was hurt. Leave it alone.
No, the snake shouldnt have been around the child because of the chance that it would get out. People talk about pitbulls and other dangerous animals there is no difference from the snake. And good for the mom stabbing that thing! I would have chopped it up if it were my kid.
I have been raising reptiles for 10+ years and a python is nor more or less dangerous than dogs and cats. It takes experience and knowledge how to handle a snake of this size. Before purchasing or volunteering to care for such an animal, precautions should be taken to know the animal is in a locked enclosure suitable to the size and power of the animal. It is sad when good people who are only trying to be helpful have bad things happen. I hope this will not prevent them from enjoying reptiles in the future.
Vegasbd, why don't you add something or be quiet. Bush/Obama have nothing, NOTHING to do with this.
And yeah, snakes rock. Great pets if you know how to care for them.
Redferret, you're an idiot. Lighten up!
I am with Redferret on this one. If it were their pet dog that attacked the child would you blame the president for that and call for ban of dogs?
I know it is a frightful thing to have to go through, and I, too, congratulate the mother for her quick actions but that doesn't make her wrong for having the snake in the first place. The thing is the animal if housed correctly shoul not have been able to escape.
Why is a snake any different to any other animal. It has been drummed into you that they are deadly, sinful creatures but they're not. They are just like any other animal and need to be treated with respect to avoid such accidents from happening.
Try some crocodile on the local menu here in Australia. I think that's a great way to enjoy reptiles. I hope the little boy didn't feel too blue about what happend, it sounds like the snake was pretty cut-up about it.