Pet python strangles US toddler
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| Thu, 07-02-2009 - 10:57am |
Video at link shows authorities removing snake from the house & an audeo of the BF making the 911 call.....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8130282.stm
A pet python broke out of its holding tank and strangled a two-year-old girl in the bedroom of her home in Florida, local authorities said.
The 8ft (2.5m) albino Burmese python had also bitten Shaiunna Hare on her forehead several times.
Charles Darnell, the snake's owner and boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, stabbed the python and prised the child away, but she died before paramedics arrived.
Authorities removed the snake from the home after obtaining a search warrant.
Officials said Mr Darnell did not have a permit for the snake. He could face child endangerment or other charges.
Everglades breeding
According to police, Mr Darnell said he had put the snake in a bag in an aquarium container on Tuesday night, but awoke the next morning to find it missing.
Bobby Caruthers, from the sheriff's office in Sumter County, central Florida, said Mr Darnell "ran immediately to the infant's room" and discovered "the snake on the child".
"He also said he observed bite marks on the forehead of the child," Mr Caruthers said.
Wildlife officials say they are growing increasingly concerned by the proliferation of pythons in the Florida wilderness.
It is believed that some have been released by pet owners who can no longer care for them.
The snakes are breeding in the Everglades, where they have no natural predators.
Burmese pythons can reach a length of 16ft (5m) and live for 30 years.
The US Humane Society told Associated Press news agency that at least 12 people have been killed in the US by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.



Genealogical Musings
I'm sure that's true given the number of dogs vs pythons. How many children are killed because of irresponsible dog owners? I wouldn't be comfortable
Genealogical Musings
Surprising, as folks keeping these reptiles in their homes, is the resistence Sen.Nelson is seeing from our senators to pass a ban to stop pythons from being imported.
150,000 pythons are killing off near extinct species in the Everglades daily.
Lobbyists for the 10million $ reptile import business need to be quieted.
Re:dogs
The difference is there are local community rescue programs where you can openly take a pet that has outgrown expectations.
Does your community have a program to take in Snakes/iguanas when permits were not drawn for ownership?
"The difference is there are local community rescue programs where you can openly take a pet that has outgrown expectations."
Good point. Especially when that pet python grows to 16'. Maybe a