16ft Python Stalked, Ate Dog in Front of Children

Good grief! I can't believe what I just read. If this thing is large enough to eat a dog, it could certainly do the same with a small child. They acknowledged it was stalking the dog for days and they DID NOTHING ABOUT IT? Hello? Can you say 'child endangerment'?

This was very much in the media last night. It is quite an amazing feet for a snake, even a python, to eat a dog. It must have been very distressing for the children to see this. To be honest, I would be horrified if a snake ate my dog or cat. We dont get pythons in Adelaide, only the poisonous kinds of snakes that can kill dogs & cats with one bite.

Oh my! If there was a 16 foot python near my home, children and dogs I would do something like report a sighting to the zoo, police and local newspaper. I feel sorry for the two young children that witnesses the large snake swallow the pet dog. So the snake is in the animal shelter but will be let go into the bush! Who is to say this will not happen again? My ex husband was born in Cairns in Australia and his sister lives in the tropical highlands near to where this awful incident happened.

I agree that the parents shouldhave done something about this the first time that they saw the wnake. But I am happy that the snake was not killed because the snake was only doing what it does best, survive by eating small animals. I don't think that it could have eaten the children but it might have tried and killed them before realizing that they were too big for it. All too often people will kill animals that they do not like when in fact the animals that they are killing are doing a great service to them indirectly such as by eating other animals that are a greater threat to us such as rats and other animals that eit our foods or carry diseases.

Who did this snake belong to? I hate snakes..This would scare the crap right out of me...I would get my dog and children out of harms way and called someone for help..

I understand AU has more snakes than any other region in the world--and when people are used to seeing snakes, even large ones, they may not react as quickly as the rest of us. Still, they had days to do something about this, and they did not. No doubt that snake could have attacked one of the children. It angers me though I still feel sorry for the family. I just hope their story will serve as a warning to other families who live in similar territories.

That's one big snake! 1. The snake was seen around for days before, why not call a professional? 2. It's close enough to the house to be in the dog's bed, i.e. close to the children - why not call someone to get it out of there? 3. The kids watch the snake eat the dog, why did the parent(s) allow the kids to stand by and watch? What a bizarre story. Sometimes I wonder about the logic of some people.

I read this news in todays news paper its what to say..kids scared lot. that snake was taken care from the zoo people.

I couldn't believe it when I saw it on the net. I have a python beside my bed at the moment but in a cage. He was moved up stairs when Mother in law came to stay as she was on the sofa bed. He is only about 2 metres long. But the rats he eats are not much bigger than a little dog.