Posted on 12/31/2006 1:22:47 PM PST by george76
A 14-foot python bit its handler and tried to drag her into its cage during a show at an aquarium, and wouldn't release the woman until a police officer zapped the reptile with a stun gun.
Alison Cobianchi, 18, was taking Chloe, a Burmese python, out of her cage for the daily snake presentation Saturday at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium when the snake wrapped itself around her arm and waist.
Visitors and aquarium employees kept the nonvenomous snake from pulling Cobianchi into the cage, but couldn't make it release its grip.
Police were called to help. "We either had to Taser it or we would have had to kill it," police Sgt. Allen MacKenzie said.
Cobianchi suffered puncture wounds on her wrist.
"It was definitely the most scary and painful thing that has ever happened to me," she said. "I knew I wasn't going to die, but I was worried I wouldn't get my hand back."
The snake was not seriously hurt by the stun gun.
Aquarium owner Scott Conger said Chloe bit him once while he was feeding her, but Cobianchi is the first employee seriously injured. He said the snake show was canceled indefinitely.
"She was my favorite animal that we had," Cobianchi said of Chloe. "Not anymore."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating.
A 14 foot Burmese python
Whew, thank God that the snake is OK. /sarc
Innnndegesssssstionnnnnnnn.....
Fascinating. I knew they wrapped around and swallowed you but didn't know they bit you.
Also I suspect the handler was jolted by the taser to but was greatful for it.
But am I the only one that wonders about the ability of the snake handlers if their only means of resolving problems with the animals is the Police Dept ?
"She was my favorite animal that we had," Cobianchi said of Chloe.
"Not anymore."
I wonder if the cop haters are going to show up on this thread.
It just goes to show that you can name a snake Chloe and you can treat it real nice, but snakes don't think like people.
It's a good thing it didn't wrap around her neck.
I guess they aren't going to try this again. But if they do, they might have their own taser handy, just in case.
Not at feeding time, though.
Leni
Is something eating something else, or making love........?
Somebody please parse the pic.
Leni
Until the python grabs the taser and learns how to use it. In my best Dr. Evil voice "Pythons with friggin tasers on their heads"
;-)
Seriously though I thought you'd just use a large knife or machete or something if you didn't have a taser.
Ah well I'm just a country boy who's used to solvin stuff on his own.
Burmese Pythons can be pretty nasty, and can get quite a bit larger than 14'.
IMO
The python ate the gator then exploded
"I knew they wrapped around and swallowed you but didn't know they bit you."
LOL!!
They have to grab you and hold on to you somehow! They have all these backward pointed teeth and not only do they keep their bite they actually slowly walk their teeth forward.
As far as your last comment...in my opinion what we call "snake handlers" are just people who fool with snakes. Not like there is a college degree in it. (Now watch somebody come up with proof that there is!)
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