Python kills careless student zookeeper in Caracas

The university biology student had broken the park's rules by entering the cage holding the snake, which had been donated two months ago and was not on public display, according to the zoo's management.

A snake bite on his arm indicated the python had attacked Arrieta before wrapping itself around him and crushing him to death.

"The young man underestimated the animal's instinct," said the director general of the Parque del Este zoo, Javier Hernandez.

It is the main zoo in Caracas and was built on an old coffee plantation. This zoo includes South American animals such as birds, reptiles, imported felines and elephants.

It is rare for constrictor snakes to kill humans, but it has happened on rare occasions.