Burms good climbers?

[jncoclub]

My husband and I went to the Honolulu zoo a bit ago and of course flocked to see the only 2 snakes allowed to live peacefully on the island. Above their male burm (which didn’t look too good) had it’s info chart and it didn’t seem right. I should have taken a picture but then I think I found the similar description at http://www.honoluluzoo.org/burmese_python.htm .

It says “The Burmese python climbs well and can suspend itself by its prehensile tail.”

I thought large snakes, such as the Burmese were horrible climbers due to their size. Yea they are snakes and can grip and climb and all, but I thought that as they get older and fatter, they also become a bit lazy and don’t climb as much, and at that, don’t climb well.

Now I may be bitter that I had to get rid of my burm, but this still sticks out in my mind. I was hoping that the Honolulu zoo would have this great exhibit for the 2 snakes that were allowed on the island and want to show them off, but they were presented as nothing special.

[Hamster of Borg]

Mine younger ones will climb if given the chance and something sturdy enough to support them. The larger ones, doubtful. They'll go up and over solid things, but I really can't see a 100lb+ snake finding a good branch to hang out on. I could just see walking through the jungle of Myanmar and hearing this big crash as a large python hits a branch that won't support its weight. :)

Ham

[Mike177]

an adult burm CAN climb but they will rarely do it. there is no reson to go into a tree if the food is on the ground. but yes they can climb but its rare.

[jncoclub]

I think I was just trying ot find something wrong with the zoo and their dislike for having snaskes on the islands. (As reasonable as it may be, I'm still bitter about it.)

[Linds]

I'm going to have to disagree with the above statements. We used to house 3 of the burms at work in a very large enclosure, that was probably about 11' tall if memory serves. They loved to climb and one of them (12') would spend most of his time hanging out in the branches.

As for the statement about not needing to go in to the trees for food, because it is found on the ground, that can be applicable to almost any snake, so I don't feel that's a very good arguement.