BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 27, 2008

16-Foot Python Eats Family Dog

Australian Snake Stalked Pet For Days Before Swallowing It In Front Of Horrified Children

  • Play CBS Video Video Python Devours Chihuahua

    "CBS News Raw": A 16-foot python stalked a family dog for days, then swallowed it whole in front of two children. A zoo will keep the snake until it may be released into the wild safely.

  • In this photo released by the Australian Venom Zoo, a 16-foot python swallows a pet dog whole in Kuranda, Australia.

    In this photo released by the Australian Venom Zoo, a 16-foot python swallows a pet dog whole in Kuranda, Australia.  (AP Photo/Stuart Douglas)

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(AP)  A 16-foot python stalked a family dog for days before swallowing the pet whole in front of horrified children in the Australian tropics, animal experts said Wednesday.

The boy and girl, ages 5 and 7, watched as the scrub python devoured their silky terrier-Chihuahua crossbreed Monday at their home near Kuranda in Queensland state.

Stuart Douglas, owner of the Australian Venom Zoo in Kuranda, said scrub pythons typically eat wild animals such as wallabies, a smaller relative of the kangaroo, but sometimes turn to pets in urban areas.

"It actively stalked the dog for a number of days," Douglas said.

"The family that owned the dog had actually seen it in the dog's bed, which was a sign it was out to get it," he added.

"They should have called me then, but (the snake) got away and three or four days later, I was called and went around and removed it" after the dog had been killed, Douglas said.

By the time Douglas arrived, all that could be seen of the dog was its hind legs and tail.

The zoo manager, Todd Rose, said pythons squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole. The 5-year-old dog would have been suffocated within minutes.

"The lady who was there threw some plastic chairs at the snake, but you've got to remember that this is about 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of aggressive muscle," Rose said.

Removing the half-swallowed dog could have harmed or even killed the python, Rose said, because dogs have sharp teeth and claws that could do the snake internal damage if it were wrenched out.

The snake was still digesting the dog at the zoo Wednesday. It will soon be relocated to the bush, Douglas said.


© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 52 Comments
by snakesrcool September 25, 2009 7:11 PM EDT
I love it!
Reply to this comment
by squrrley February 29, 2008 2:56 AM EST
A few years back I kelled one a Python it was about an 8 footer in my home near my pecon trees I have squirrels and I could hear my squirrels shurpping I went to investigate when I saw the Python it was white I shot it, it must have belong to someone and they could not feed it any more so they turn it lose. This snaks do not belong here in the U.S.A. they can destory our ecosystem our pets
Reply to this comment
by ynot12007 February 28, 2008 7:40 PM EST
I hate snakes. Perhaps, others do but I do not. Being a dog person, I would have found a way to save my pet. Snakes do not belong in someone''s house, "PERIOD". Dogs and cats yes snakes, NO.
Reply to this comment
by iceman_1960 February 28, 2008 6:08 PM EST
RE: Post by guysdigdirt at 01:24 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Is that not the reason Cheney goes hunting ?

Or can you ***-ume some other motive.
Reply to this comment
by l00ker February 28, 2008 4:31 PM EST
You''ll start hearing more stories like this, from the southern U.S., because many of these owners release these snakes into the wild, after they have become to large to handle. And unfortunely, someone will lose a small child as a result of it.
Reply to this comment
by guysdigdirt February 28, 2008 4:24 PM EST
Human beings like D*ick Cheney stalk and kill animals just for the fun of it.

That"s called "sportsmanship.""
Posted by Iceman_1960

You assume much. And I do mean you assu, cuz the only person you make an a$$ of is you.
Reply to this comment
by iceman_1960 February 28, 2008 2:12 PM EST
"The world should get rid of all snakes!"
-Posted by bunnybaum at 10:53 AM : Feb 28, 2008
-----------

Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences.

Snakes are a major control on rodents. Get rid of all snakes, and the resulting explosion in the population of mice and rats would destroy the ecosystem and possibly lead to the destruction of the human race.
Reply to this comment
by bunnybaum February 28, 2008 1:53 PM EST
I say "Shoot the snake". The only good snake is a dead one. I feel for the family. I have a mini Shih-Tzu and consider him a part of my family. The world should get rid of all snakes!
Reply to this comment
by minnick8-2009 February 28, 2008 1:25 PM EST
Has a python ever eaten a child? Maybe the family should be glad the snake only ate the dog.
Reply to this comment
by pensacola88 February 28, 2008 1:02 PM EST
I remember being sent out to go get the newspaper for my father and watching a cat have babies and then eat them! It was not my cat and I had no bond with any pet, but the event was strange. A few years ago an alligator robbed my fish on a stringer and even ate the six foot chain. Animals attack for food out of need.

It is sad that a snake competed with two small children for their pet dog. I am sad that they suffer such a loss!

Hopefully they will be taught to accept nature on its terms, not try to control it.
Reply to this comment
by iceman_1960 February 28, 2008 11:50 AM EST
"About the 2nd page of Genesis it says humans and snakes will be enemies."
- Posted by runningralph at 08:18 AM : Feb 28, 2008

What does it say about snakes and chihuahuas ?
Reply to this comment
by iceman_1960 February 28, 2008 11:47 AM EST
"16-Foot Python Eats Family Dog..."It actively stalked the dog for a number of days"
---------------------

Well, the snake needed to eat to survive.

Human beings like D*ick Cheney stalk and kill animals just for the fun of it.

That"s called "sportsmanship.""
Reply to this comment
by runningralph February 28, 2008 11:18 AM EST
About the 2nd page of Genesis it says humans and snakes will be enemies. They should not be kept roaming around a home. On the other hand, I''ve never seen a chihuahua that I ddn''t want to feed to a python.
Reply to this comment
by stupidrules3 February 28, 2008 9:55 AM EST
If this chihuahua mix had the temperament of a chihuahua, he probably thought he could take out the snake and attacked it. Kind of like bringing a knife to a gunfight. I have always believed that if it weren''t for humans spoiling and protecting them chihuahuas would be extinct.
Reply to this comment
by skeezix06 February 28, 2008 8:04 AM EST
Newsflash Scarlet. I don''t care about the snake. According to yahoo, pythons are apparently going to become part of the scenery for the bottom third of the U.S. If I see one of them near me I''m going to look a way to kill it.
Reply to this comment
by elimeric February 28, 2008 12:12 AM EST
How the hell can the snake do that?
Reply to this comment
by elimeric February 28, 2008 12:09 AM EST
Holy ***!!! Are you kidding me? A chihuaha? As the famous line in "Ghost Hunters" is stated... "Dude, Run!!!!"

Run for your *** life! The snake is coming to get ya!

Anyways, I would try and do anything to stop that snake from coming back to the house....
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings February 27, 2008 11:25 PM EST
Ummmm, Chihuahua... tastes like Mexican Chicken!
Reply to this comment
by Syndicate February 27, 2008 11:16 PM EST
Me too.
Reply to this comment
by bb19631 February 27, 2008 7:35 PM EST
I hate snakes!!
Reply to this comment
See all 52 Comments

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