Question about snake show with tiger snakes

[Snake_Whisperer]

The tiger snake does not recognise anything, it's a reptile, not a person and tiger or any other species are not emotional in any shape or form. Their emotions are limited to biting or not biting - to put it simply.

LOL! That pretty much sums it up!

(40 x Kids) + Tiger snake ≠ A good idea.
Touchy touchy

 

[Tassie97]

i am not being involved

 

[snakehandler]

A few years ago there were changes made to the conditions on a demonstrators permit which clearly stated that a venomous snake (whether it can inflict a venomous bite or not)...(this means venomoids) cannot be touched by the general public.......unless a letter of authroity from the director general is obtained, this is to allow demonstrators with appropriate permission to allow participants in venomous snake handling courses to pick up venomous snakes...otherwise it is TOTALLY against the regulations. This was challenged by a demonstrator in VCAT in 2008 and this individual lost......venomoids are considered to be a venomous species, even if they cannot inflict a venomous bite.

 

[snakeluvver]

What makes you more intelligent and aware of dangers than other children in Tassie?

Because a 6 yr old may think its ok cos they saw an adults do it, I know that they're dangerous and to be cautious and not get too close.

 

[longqi]

WOW ^^^^
Thank god I wont be going back to Victoria
Wasnt there are a Demonstrator down your way who had 'de-venomed' brownies??

In saying that I dont have even have vens on display here as I want everyone to feel comfortable
Some people just cannot relax if they know a ven is within sight
My vens are only for me to enjoy

 

[snakehandler]

As I said, even with the modified animals, they are a venomous species, therefor they cannot be handled by members of the general public, unless in an approved course with a letter of exemption.

 

[bobthefish]

arhh cant pm bobthefish
i wanted to talk to him ...
well because of the stupid laws we have no other choice (it wasnt me)
but fair dinkum the laws need to be changed so we can have pythons full stop.:x:x:x

You can email me at [email protected]

The guy had pythons with him- he told the kids that they were too nippy to pet. He had a really nice looking MD and in the past when I've seen his shows he's had a stimson, I think. He's a licensed zookeeper, and therefore can have them.

I'm a school teacher myself, and any time I have to do anything out of school with kids I have to do a risk management assessment. I just don't see how it could have passed that!

Thank you for your input all- I'm most appreciative. As a former (and nearly lifelong) snake owner myself, I definitely appreciate what he was trying to do, but I agree with those of you who said it wasn't worth the risk. I am of the camp that believes that it was safe, but all it would take is one misbehaved kid, one stumble, or anything like that, and it could have been very unsafe indeed.

My wife has been on the the ministry that handles this sort of thing, and they are trying to put new guidelines in place, as there are none here at the moment. But you'd think regardless of whether the guy was allowed to do it or not, he would have thought better of it.

 

[Tassie97]

i am not being involved

 

[bobthefish]

Devonport

 

[Tassie97]

i am not being involved

 

[Nik]

I love that bobthefish has an email address that is bobthewombat

 

[varanid_mike]

With the range of pythons in Australia that are suitable for handling and public interaction there is never a reason to allow the general public to touch or handle an elapid or venomous colubrid (apart from courses).
All responsible demonstrators should never allow the general public anywhere near elapids as it sends out the wrong message and for the last few years has been illegal here in Victoria. It’s a good regulation and should really be implemented in all states.

 

[Tassie97]

i am not being involved

 

[87batesy]

Hey class today im going to show you a pistol now because of strict import laws i cant get a pistol with a safety lever or blank bullets.

Now to stop the gun shooting anyone i will simply put my finger over the barrel

 

[MrFireStorm]

OK....I will attempt to clear and clarify and confirm a few facts/speculations already posted.

At present, NO importations are permitted into Tasmania. P&W put in place a morotorium in '09 whilst the government/p&w were having the regulations reviewed. Information I have been given from P&W is that the new regs were to be in place end of April '11 (Yet to confirm that this has been done). However, this does not open the importation regs as yet. The importation regs are expected to be opened at the end of this year.

As posted (by Snakehandler), some permit holders in the state have previously been approved to import mainland species (prior to morotorium). At present, I am aware of only 6 individual persons that this includes (of which I am one of those). One other person has been granted a "display" permit but as yet has not been able to import.

A number of smuggled species (pythons/lizards) are also being held (under Crown Permit) by licenced individuals (this was previously set in place to allow a variety of reptiles for educational purposes). By being permitted to keep these species in the state for education also meant that they were not euthanised.

I have personally conducted many displays around Tasmania (public, private organisations and government bodies) and have used all 3 species of snakes, variety of lizards and mainland species at all displays. I had a purpose built portable "snake pit" made a number of years ago to allow the public to view different species without viewing through glass.
This causes a personal issue with me as many children would tap on the glass to make the animals move or strike (even with signs on the enclosures).
Whilst I was inside the "pit", one of the very 1st messages I put across was that "anything I did during the display should not be attempted by members of the public at home or in the wild".

At times I would have control of a venomous species and allow a member of the public to touch/feel the tail end of the animal. At NO time would I allow anyone near the "pointy" end of an animal, this included pythons and even blue tongues,
this was my own personal practice.

It is correct that at this time, no legislation/regs are in place prohibiting members of the public touching venomous snakes. Also not in place is the restriction of "free-handling" of venomous snakes during public displays. The latter has been a major issue recently and a number of persons have been in touch with P&W and the relevant ministers in an attempt to have this stopped.

Cheers
Darron

 

[MickThow]

Hi all- question for you.

My daughter just attended a snake show with her Year 1-2 class. The company doing the show had a live, non-defanged, active and wild caught Tiger snake that they let the kids pet. The only restraint was the handler holding it behind the head. This was in a room with somewhere around 40 kids between 5 and 8, and two teachers.

Am I missing something, or is this not a real good idea? Apparently it's very common here in Tassie.

I'd greatly appreciate your opinions before I pursue this matter with the school and government.

Feel free to contact Ross Monash DPIPQWE 1300 368 550 There is only one python that is "too nippy" the children did also touch a childrens python a bluetongue and a murry darling I also surgest that your school contact me if there is any issues that they have so they can be addresed. My phone is 0418 170 952. It would allso be nice if you told people of the brochure I give out to everyone that also outlines the important information on what and how to deal with snakes. Thank you Michael Thow

 

[Tassie97]

i am not being involved

 

[elapid@]

i have no worries with some one who lets someone touch a tiger snake........if the person though he was not capable of restraining and it could have bitten some one then he would have thrown it at them. lol

 

[-Peter]

I have to say I am shocked by this. People still think that defanging snakes is a real option?

 

[Tassie97]

I have to say I am shocked by this. People still think that defanging snakes is a real option?

i agree and venomoid too stupid idea IMO