Giant Python Caught on Florida Street

[Burium]

http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D840FRCG0

Kelly

[thunder]

whoever released that snake should be euthanized in its place!

[Lrptls]

why are they trying to find a home for it at a zoo? if they find a rescue to take it some one will eventually want it.

[Thorn07]

People are weird, the goverment sux, sux dik!!! Sometimes they do some pretty stupid stuff!!!

[Samba]

Sorry, I didn't get to read the story but from what I hear I hope the snake is doing well...

I got my burm because he either escaped or was set free by his former owner. I had to beg for him not to be euthanized, which they were going to do ON THE SPOT, even though he wasn't aggressive, and was very cooperative during the capture.

If someone could e-mail the article to me it would be totally awesome! Thanks! (OpticVixen@Hotmail.Com)

Bandula and I, 4 years after he was caught roaming:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/sambagurl/MVC-919F.jpg

[treegirl]

For some reason when I try to upload the article everything comes in except for the text...... dunno why.

Nice photo Samba and what a great rescue story. Thanks for saving his life....

tree

[Samba]

Thanks, Dawnell, hopfully someday I will get to read the article.
The photo is a self-portrait of Bandula and I, and, believe it or not, I was holding the camara myself while trying to postition him (he wanted to get back into the back tub... even after I drained it!) LOL Even though *I* don't look that great in the pic, I really like it because Bandula is sticking his tongue out! Thanks again!

[annieb_mice]

What a great pic, Samba! Good on you for rescuing him!
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[JimmyDavid]

Follow my logic, here. A zoo is a place that makes money out of exhibiting animals. If they DO NEED a certain animal for display and happen to get it from rescue (for free) that's great for them. So there should be a law saying they CAN'T turn another animal down when they don't feel like it. Such law would make sure zoos contributed with what is suposed to be one of their goals: the preservation and care of animals. And not just a money making place.

[Gary D.]

Whoa there hoss. I disagree. A mandate of education and conservation does not mean being a rescue. Zoos should be concerned and willling to help if required and many are, and will referr animals to rescues. But requiring them to take in and permenantly house unwanted pets is wrong, as many zoos have rules against giving animals to private individuals.

Besides, here we stand arguing for reasonable laws to allow us to keep these animals in private collections, and against bans on exotics. Turning and saying that these animals are exotic animals and zoos should be required to take them is shooting every one of us private individuals in the head. Unless you are suggesting zoos should be required to take in domestic pets too?

[JimmyDavid]

So you think "euthanized" is better?! It sure is the easy way...

[JHherpetofauna]

I am not sure where at in Florida this is, because the article wont show anything but a blank white screen but it is not uncommon to see burmese pythons down towards Everglades National Park. Awhile ago tourists witnessed a burm constricting an alligator, both walked away blooded up. An occasional green anaconda isnt uncommon either. I have caught a few burms and a few park wardens say they have seen "giants" 13-14 footers. But this is far south florida and i dont know if this is for sure a captive? Couldnt read it, take care Jh

[Cruciform]

Euthanized is better than a dump with thousands of animals that can't be cared for because the place is going bankrupt.

Here's an example for comparison:

What if they were to pass a law that said because you own a reptile you are part of the community, and you should be required to pay for the upkeep of those animals whose owners abandoned them. It would only come to a few thousand a month, and they could deduct it directly from your pay.

Suddenly it doesn't seem like such a good idea does it?

Laws are dangerous things. They have lives of their own and can ruin a community as easily as they can save it.

[JimmyDavid]

I just wish the animals did not have to pay for it, that's all. Hey, i have an idea, let's euthanize those worthless homeless dirty people that polute our sidewalks.

[Samba]

No person, or animal is worthless. I understand your point, but judging a 'class' of people without knowing the facts just seems ignorant to me. Some people cannot control what happens in their lives, same as the animals.

We need a change for all of this, and I'm willing to do what I can to help. South Florida has long been known as an exotic 'drop-off'. We aren't ever going to get these animals to stop reproducing and taking over land that the natural creatures should be inhabiting without extreme messures. There isn't a place for these animals to go when their owners decide they can't stick with a commitment. It's not fair to the animals, and most captured end up being killed because authorities sure as hell aren't going to return 'dangerous' animals back into an environment where they don't even belong. How sad.

Any ideas?

[Gary D.]

As long as Reptiles are kept by private individuals such as you and I, there wil be bad owners. If we want reptiles available to the pet industry, guaranteed they will be subject to the same conditions (and more). Abandoned/ferrile pets get picked up by the SPCA, and if are not adopted out in a short time, they are euthanized. The only other solution is broad sweeping exotic bans. Reality is not pretty. Make your choice.