FBH Statement on the death two young boys in Canada The death of two young boys in Canada is a terrible tragedy which will deeply sadden the exotic-pet keeping community. Whilst the full facts of the incident have not yet been released, it would appear that the culprit could be a large (14 foot) African rock python which allegedly carried out a random and unprovoked attack on the two children as they slept. Whilst these deaths are tragic, it is important that attacks by snakes are not blown out of perspective, leading to persecution of pet owners or introduction of disproportionate restrictions on keeping these animals. In the UK, for example, there are over 7,000,000 reptiles kept as pets, of which an estimated 200,000 are constrictors (pythons & boas). There have been no deaths or serious (life threatening) injuries by large constrictors in the past 100 years and the only death from a venomous snake occurred when a keeper was bitten in 2011. By contrast, sixteen people (mainly children) have been killed by pet dogs since 2005, with hundreds more seriously injured or maimed for life. Accident and Emergency statistics show that reptiles are among the safest pets, with just 74 instances of injury logged in 2011-2012. During the same period there were 6,640 hospital admissions for dog bites and 2,738 bites from other mammals. Until further information is available, speculation as to the circumstances of this tragedy would not be appropriate but most reptile experts would concur that the scenario as initially presented is highly improbable. The parents, friends and relatives of the dead boys have suffered an appalling loss and an investigation which reflects the serious nature of events will no doubt ensue. Chris Newman Chairman – Federation of British Herpetologists
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 18:05:47 +0000
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