Daily Reptile News

DK Reptiles take their animals to the streets of Wisbech

SHOPPERS had the chance to come face-to-face with pythons in Wisbech town centre on Saturday as DK Reptiles took to the streets.

Staff from the shop took a number of animals out and gave members of the public free talks in the hope of educating them about a variety of creatures they sell.

David Johnson, co-owner of the shop, said: “So many people have a lack of understanding about reptiles.

“We like to give something back to the community but also show people that reptiles are not going to hurt them. They are actually cheaper than the average pet and can live a lot longer too.

“I still get such a buzz when I see the eyes of people seeing or holding a snake for the first time. They’re amazed.”

A 20-year-old African Tortoise that weighs 50kg and costs £20-a-day to feed was taken to the open day from breeder Tara White as enthusiasts shared their animals too.

The shop, in Union Street Wisbech, are passionate about ensuring their reptiles go to homes that have sufficient knowledge about keeping reptiles

Large Python Found on Home Porch in Fayetteville

(Fayetteville, AR) — One northwest Arkansas woman received a visit Sunday -not from family or friends, but from a very large reptile.

Deputies in Washington County captured a nine and a half foot python after a woman found it on her front porch.

The snake had a noticeable bulge in the snake’s belly, evidence that it ate an entire chicken.

“A snake that size could easily kill a child. In the wrong hands, I’m sure it could kill a full size adult. They’re very strong, VERY strong animals,” said Dep. Lori Hodges of the Washington Co. Sheriff’s office.

The snake remains at the Washington County animal shelter. If the owners don’t claim the animal within three days it goes to an area safari.

Lizard hunter finds human skeleton found buried in northwestern Indiana sand dune

GARY, Ind. — Authorities say a man searching for lizards found a human skeleton exposed from a shallow grave in a wooded sand dune area of northwestern Indiana.

The remains were found Monday evening about 150 feet from U.S. 20 near Gary’s Miller Beach neighborhood. The site also is a short drive from an Interstate 80/94 interchange on the city’s east side.

Gary police Detective Art Azcona says the gender or other descriptions of the person couldn’t immediately be determined and that the bones and teeth would be studied in hopes of making an identification.

Man to serve six years for assaulting 7-year-old

A man who sexually assaulted a 7-year-old neighbor after luring her into his home to see his snake collection was ordered yesterday to serve six years in prison.

Harry Thiel Emory, 68, was previously convicted of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

As part of a plea agreement, Emory could not have gotten more than six years to serve. Judge David Beck gave him 20 years with 14 years suspended.

According to the evidence, the girl and her young friend went to Emory’s home the evening of Sept. 25, 2009.

The other girl quickly left, leaving the 7-year-old alone with Emory.

The girl’s mother knocked and kicked on Emory’s door for several minutes after learning her child was in the house.

She had told the child to never go on Emory’s property, according to the evidence.

The child finally came running from the side of the home. She was visibly upset and told her mother what Emory had done.

The mother returned to Emory’s home a short time later with her boyfriend and another man.

They confronted Emory about the improper touching allegations and later called the police.

Deputy James Harney Jr. responded to the call and according to court records, Emory immediately told him that he “had done something bad.”

Emory told the deputy that he’d taken the child into his basement to see the snakes and “touched her leg.” He repeated several times that “it was a bad thing and I shouldn’t have done it.”

The child testified in detail at a preliminary hearing about how and where Emory had touched her. She said he also asked her to kiss him on the cheek, but she did not.

Prosecutor John C. Bowers agreed to the six-year cap in part so that the child would not have to testify again.

Emory, who had no prior criminal record, has already served nearly a year.

No snake in the grass: 6-foot python found on picnic table at Cleveland area public park

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio (DRN) — A python more than 6 feet long has given people a slithery scare at a nature park near Cleveland.

Startled visitors at the Mill Stream Run Reservation in North Royalton found the large snake on a picnic table Sunday, soaking up the sun.

Metropark rangers captured the reptile, whose skin was covered in a pattern of brown geometric shapes. It’s suspected the python either escaped or was dumped in the park by its owner.

Rangers say if they don’t find the owner they’ll hand the snake over to the Cleveland Zoo.

Rattlesnake that escaped from Zoo Atlanta found dead

A venomous rattlesnake missing from Zoo Atlanta for three days was found dead Monday morning on the front porch of a vacant house a few blocks away.

“We are grateful the snake was found,” said Raymond King, president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta. “We are conducting a thorough review of the incident to ensure all appropriate adjustments to procedures and protocols occur.”

The adult female tiger rattlesnake was discovered missing from its cage Friday. Zoo officials had been looking in vain until Monday morning, when they received a call from someone on Atlanta Avenue who said they spotted the snake.

Zoo visitors over the weekend were unaware that the dangerous reptile was missing.

“We had no idea. I didn’t see any signs or anything, not even at the reptile exhibit,” said Nancy Fowler, who brought her three children to the zoo.

It’s unclear how the snake got loose. Zoo spokeswoman Keisha Hines told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the nocturnal snake was believed to be still inside the building where she was housed, which is not accessible to the public. But Hines could not say why staff thought the snake was still in that building. Hines said signs warning the public were thus not needed.

Fowler and her husband drove an hour from Euharlee, near Cartersville, to bring their three children to see the two-month old giraffe. They didn’t know about the loose snake until they heard another parent ask a zookeeper about it.

“We had fun, but wish we would have known,” said Fowler, who worried about the safety of her children ages 7, 4 and 11 months. “Thankfully, we didn’t see it. I don’t want them to get bit.”

David McLeod, owner of Georgia Wildlife Services, said tiger snakes, which are native to the southwest and Central America, are very dangerous.

“They are real toxic,” he said. “Even if you survive the bite, the greatest risk is losing parts of the body like fingers, hands from the death of the tissue.”

McLeod said he has removed pythons and other large snakes, along with raccoons, bats and other critters from many north Georgia homes. Snakes are one of the hardest animals to catch, he said.

“They have a slower metabolism rate so they spend the bulk of the time digesting meals,” he told the AJC. “If it catches a large rat, it may go two-three weeks without a meal.”

That digestion and nap time is usually spent curled up in a dark hidden place, like under a bush or furniture.

“A search for a snake like that is tough because you first got to locate all their hiding places, looking in all kinds of cracks and crevices,” he said.

McLeod said it is possible to trap a snake using a box with some type of glue or small mouse as bait.

Christine Hanson’s two daughters wanted to help catch the snake. Mom wanted no part of it.

“I kept asking ‘did you find it? Did you find it?,’” said Hanson, of Lawrenceville. “They said it’s way in the back. We took the train ride and looked for it.”

The at-large snake also didn’t deter crowds from the nearby Summer Shade Festival at Grant Park.

Beth Ann Trammell, who ran a booth selling knitted baby clothes, said she heard about the snake from friends and was surprised the festival was still going on.

“No one’s mentioned it and business has been pretty good,” said Trammell, owner of Burly Bunny in Montgomery, Ala. “But I’ve spent all day listening for a rattle.”

The zoo obtained the snake from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Hines said.

Malaysia uncovers nearly 100 live reptiles in bag

Anson Wong, already convicted of trafficking in wildlife in the United States, was in transit from the Malaysian island state of Penang to the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday when Malaysia Airlines (MASM.KL) staff at Kuala Lumpur airport were alerted to a bag that had broken while on a conveyor belt.

The department, in a statement issued late on Saturday, said its enforcement officers found 95 boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle inside the luggage.

Boa constrictors are subject to regulations or a complete ban in international commercial trade as they are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

The statement said Wong would remain in detention for two days. Under Malaysian law, if found guilty, he could face seven years in jail and fines of up to 100,000 ringgit ($32,000) for each animal or both.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wong had previously pleaded guilty to a trafficking in the United States in 2001 and was sentenced to 71 months in jail.

TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring organisation, said Malaysia must “rise to the challenge” of confronting new evidence of its role as an hub for those engaged in wildlife smuggling.

“Their attempt at mocking Malaysia’s legal system must be dealt with head-on,” said Kanitha Krishnasamy, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Senior Programme Officer.

On Friday, Thai customs officials found a two-month-old tiger stashed in a bag filled with tiger toys which had been checked in for an international passenger flight.

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