Python kills careless student zookeeper in Caracas

by renovatio | August 26, 2008 at 02:59 am

3124 views | 12 Recommendations | 41 comments

A true killer, wrapping the prey and crushing the prey to death and swallow its dead human prey from head to toe.

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.

192

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Milieunet

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 03:47 on August 26th, 2008

renovatio, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Stupid and sad.

renovatio

at 04:35 on August 26th, 2008

Hi Milieunet, thanks' for flag the story.

Emilio Lizardo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 04:39 on August 26th, 2008

renovatio, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Goodness ... now there's some food for thought ...

rpshen

at 08:22 on August 26th, 2008

not too bright. but sad regardless.

Paulinka13

at 10:30 on August 26th, 2008

Oh yeah, this will totally help herp keepers' and reptiles a better reputatation.

He got what was coming to him, and I don't feel sorry.

Resonant Earth

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:42 on August 26th, 2008

renovatio, I like this story. It's good stuff. Wow, All the more reason to visit an online zoo.

smallislander

at 20:03 on August 26th, 2008

This was a local python, from Siargao Island, Mindanao, that I kept for a couple of months. It wasn't very big, but very aggressive, as you can see. Pythons have backward slanting teeth, so it's very difficult to get your hand (or whatever) out of its mouth. It bit my hand, and coiled itself around my arm, so it wasn't easy to get it back in its cage.

smallislander has contributed a photo to this story.

cdubya1971

at 20:08 on August 26th, 2008

The Zoo in Columbus, Ohio houses the biggest Python (Fluffy) in captivity, much bigger than the one pictured.

cdubya1971 has contributed a photo to this story.

cdubya1971

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:10 on August 26th, 2008

renovatio, I like this story. It's good stuff.

stanleysrevenge

at 20:24 on August 26th, 2008

This picture was taken at the San Diego Zoo. I have always been fascinated by snakes and I just happened to be there at the right time to capture the pics of this Burmese Python.

stanleysrevenge has contributed a photo to this story.

Imalady_007

at 21:11 on August 26th, 2008

Imalady_007 has contributed a photo to this story.

Imalady_007

at 21:17 on August 26th, 2008

thank you for liking my photo. Could you please forward to me via email any publication attaching my photo. I am very interested in your work. Looking forward to hearing from you and perhaps giving you further photos. Check out kermitcrainean.blogspot.com which has more of my work. Cheers, Kathryn

Imalady_007 has contributed a photo to this story.

raeraemae

at 22:18 on August 26th, 2008

This is a pic of Baby and Dolly. I have had these 2 ball pythons that are around 3ftlong fully grown for 8yrs now. They are used here at Candy Cane Christian Therapeutic Ranch in our therapy program. The children love playing with them but the adults usually say me and snakes don't get along or the only good snake is a dead snake. These 2 have super personalities. They also are part of our traveling petting zoo visiting handicapped camps(ARC), schools, nursing homes, vacation bible schools etc. I have pics of my Albino Burmese Python Tinkerbell who we donated for educational purposes as I feel they are to large to keep as a pet. To view her photo go to http://community.webshots.com/user/raeraemae?vhost=community..Thank You

raeraemae has contributed a photo to this story.

genesee_metcalfs

at 07:35 on August 27th, 2008

I think that it is wonderful that you are teaching children about snakes. Stories like the one including our photos would not occur if more people were educated to respect these wonderful creatures. Snakes operate primarily on instinct, so children need to be taught what is OK to do and what is not safe. I like that you are including your snakes in a Christian oriented program and in therapy. If children learn that God created all creatures for us to share this earth with and are also taught to respect rather than fear them from an earlier age, snakes may be able to shake their bad reputation. Our daughter has a pet ball python, also featured in this article, and many of our adult friends fear poor Copper. The snake is actually a great pet and has never shown any aggression toward people or our other pets!

Thank you for sharing your information with others!

Maggie Metcalf

mayakisses

at 22:53 on August 26th, 2008

I saw this guy at our local county fair. They had another python that they were using to make money by using him/her as a model to pose with paying customers. I really wanted to hold it, but didn't want to have to pay to do so.
You can view this picture and others at www.flickr.com/photos/lindalu

mayakisses has contributed a photo to this story.

Richard Ang

at 23:26 on August 26th, 2008

That is why these animals should be left in the wild. This particular python was heartbreaking to watch. The reason why he's looking up in this shot is because he started to climb his cage and started biting the bars on top. He was quite desperate to get out of there.

Richard Ang has contributed a photo to this story.

Atsic

at 00:19 on August 27th, 2008

South West Carpet Python from Western Australia.

Atsic has contributed a photo to this story.

Atsic

at 00:20 on August 27th, 2008

crazyc78

at 00:36 on August 27th, 2008

Took this photo on a photographic field trip to the zoo in Sri lanka. Found this fellow having a good nap after a good meal. The zoo feeds common house rats for these guys. I found the way this python coiled up and sleeping very interesting for a good photo with curves and patterns.

crazyc78 has contributed a photo to this story.

Skåne

at 02:12 on August 27th, 2008

no comment :)

Skåne has contributed a photo to this story.

Skåne

at 02:13 on August 27th, 2008

no comment

fitzpatrickdiane58

at 02:35 on August 27th, 2008

My daughter, Cary, 14, holds her brother's ball python, Quetzalcoatl.

fitzpatrickdiane58 has contributed a photo to this story.

ben78g

at 06:57 on August 27th, 2008

bg_os has contributed a photo to this story.

Beas (not verified)

at 07:33 on August 27th, 2008

Yes. It's good story for warning. In my country python swallow 9 years old school boy when he was walking in the wood. When it's killed and cut, the dead body still in his school uniform... how tragic!

glow1727

at 07:50 on August 27th, 2008

I named him Jager, hes about 5 months old here. so far hes been a great pet!

glow1727 has contributed a photo to this story.

Butterfly923

at 08:10 on August 27th, 2008

This photo was taken by me at the Erie Zoo in Erie PA.

Butterfly923 has contributed a photo to this story.

UmDaman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:36 on August 27th, 2008

This is defiantly a crazy story. I guess they have those "Rules" for a good reason, he found out the hard way. :( I guess he should have had a buck knife with him.

uxgxlxy

at 15:07 on August 27th, 2008

this is our coastal carpet/jaguar python, danzig. he is almost a year old. we appreciate your effort to educate others regarding reptiles and proper handling/care of them.

uxgxlxy has contributed a photo to this story.