Bluenoser

In the Rotation
Messages
1,203
Reaction score
0
Snake kills 2 N.B. boys after escaping store, RCMP say

African rock python reportedly slithered through ventilation system into apartment

New Brunswick RCMP have launched a criminal investigation into the deaths of two young boys killed by a python that reportedly slithered through ventilation shafts after it escaped from a reptile store, though police say it's too early to determine whether charges will be laid.

Police confirmed that the store owner also resides in the upstairs apartment in Campbellton, N.B. where the two boys, aged five and seven, were found dead Monday morning.

Reptile Ocean owner Jean-Claude Savoie was hosting the two boys, aged five and seven, for a sleepover with his own son.

Savoie reportedly found the two boys and called 911, police said. His son was in another room and was unharmed, police say.

Campbellton RCMP Cpl. Alain Tremblay said police are in the first stage of a criminal investigation.

"I can tell you it's a criminal investigation right now to determine if any criminal act is responsible for the death of the two boys."

RCMP said the snake is an African rock python, as long as 4.5 metres and weighing approximately 45 kg. The non-venomous snake typically kills by constricting its victims.

The RCMP released the ages of the two boys, but have not yet identified the pair. Their mother lives nearby.

Const. Julie Rogers-Marsh said the preliminary investigation led police to believe that a python escaped its enclosure at the store sometime overnight. Initial information indicates the snake got into the ventilation system and then into the apartment upstairs.

"It's believed the two boys were strangled by the snake," she said, noting that autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow in Saint John.

Police were called to the residence on Pleasant Street at 6:30 a.m. local time.

It's not yet clear how the snake escaped, but officials now have it in their possession. Initial reports suggested the snake was a boa constrictor.

City in shock
"This is a tragedy," said Deputy Mayor Ian Comeau. "The city is in shock."

Lisa Janes is a co-owner and curator of Little Ray's Reptile Zoo, a private zoo and education program in Ontario and the Maritimes.

"We were absolutely shocked and saddened," she said Monday afternoon. "Our condolences go out to the family."

She regularly handles exotic snakes and says they can be aggressive, but it's usually for one of two reasons: "They bite because they're feeling scared or threatened, or because they smell food."

Janes said snakes don't usually see humans as food. In the New Brunswick tragedy, she said they could have been startled, or smelled something else that was a regular food source in the room.

She pointed out that more people are killed by dogs than by snakes.

Education is important to understanding and dealing with such animals, she said.

In 2009, the province of New Brunswick allowed a wider variety of snakes, lizards and other exotic pets into the province. Under the change, pet stores were then able to sell non-venomous snakes up to three metres in length.

Kevin Craig, a wildlife biologist with the province's Natural Resources department, said in a 2009 interview that pet stores pushed for the change because the province's regulations were more restrictive than other jurisdictions.

Calls to the pet store by The Canadian Press were not returned on Monday but Comeau said Reptile Ocean was licensed to operate and "everything was according to our bylaws, to the provincial guidelines."

Reptile Ocean's Facebook page was flooded with angry comments Sunday after a post saying commenters should "be ashamed of themselves" for blaming the store. It also said it would temporarily deactivate its page to "avoid further demeaning comments."

In response to the tragedy, the city of Montreal announced Sunday it is considering stiffening its laws on exotic snakes. It currently allows ownership or non-venomous snakes under three metres long.
 

VTA

UDFA
Messages
2,489
Reaction score
306
She regularly handles exotic snakes and says they can be aggressive, but it's usually for one of two reasons: "They bite because they're feeling scared or threatened, or because they smell food."

Janes said snakes don't usually see humans as food. In the New Brunswick tragedy, she said they could have been startled, or smelled something else that was a regular food source in the room.

She pointed out that more people are killed by dogs than by snakes.

Already with the apologetics. :/ A snake killed two kids, fuck that stupid out-of-place animal; cut it up and throw it out. And put it's retarded owner in a cell.
 

Jon88

Pro Bowler
Messages
19,523
Reaction score
0
Already with the apologetics. :/ A snake killed two kids, fuck that stupid out-of-place animal; cut it up and throw it out. And put it's retarded owner in a cell.

:lol

It's not the snake's fault. It's his stupid owner.
 

VTA

UDFA
Messages
2,489
Reaction score
306
The Chinese know how to handle these things...

Braised five-snake soup
1005dish01_G_20101005004328.jpg


Eat everything, before it eats you.
 
Messages
46,859
Reaction score
5
Snakes gonna snake. They're dangerous pets.

Horrible situation though. I feel for the parents of the victims.
 

Jon88

Pro Bowler
Messages
19,523
Reaction score
0
The Chinese know how to handle these things...

Braised five-snake soup
1005dish01_G_20101005004328.jpg


Eat everything, before it eats you.

They make soup out of everything. They cut sharks fins off and let them fall into the bottom of the ocean. Heartless bastards.
 

JBond

UDFA
Messages
2,667
Reaction score
2
It is illegal to own a rock python in Canada.

I hope the guy ends up in jail for a long time. 2 dead kids... If they guy would have followed the law this would have never happened.
 

VTA

UDFA
Messages
2,489
Reaction score
306
It is illegal to own a rock python in Canada.

I hope the guy ends up in jail for a long time. 2 dead kids... If they guy would have followed the law this would have never happened.

It's odd then that it escaped from the pet store below the apartments where the kid's lived.
How could they be sold if it's illegal?
 

Jon88

Pro Bowler
Messages
19,523
Reaction score
0
I was wondering the same thing. How did it manage to strangle both at the same time? That just doesn't seem possible.

This is a conspiracy against rock pythons if you ask me.
 

bbgun

Administrator
Messages
15,005
Reaction score
2,090
How convenient that only those 2 kids are dead.

yeah, his son has a sleepover but he and his friends didn't sleep in the same room? the last time I had a sleepover with pre-teen boys, we were all in the same bed.
 
Top Bottom