A python in Florida apparently decided to throw a little New Year bash at his digs at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium. He invited the animal handler in for the feast.
She did not know she was on the menu, however.
Alison Cobianchi, 18, was taking Chloe, a Burmese python, out of her cage for the daily snake presentation Saturday at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium when the snake wrapped itself around her arm and waist.
Visitors and aquarium employees kept the nonvenomous snake from pulling Cobianchi into the cage, but couldn't make it release its grip.
Police were called to help. "We either had to Taser it or we would have had to kill it," police Sgt. Allen MacKenzie said.
Cobianchi suffered puncture wounds on her wrist.
Our advice is to remember that if there is no Taser handy, then a 9-iron works rather well. We also highly recommend that Ms. Cobianchi be exceedingly careful when using the restroom. Pythons are vengeful creatures who hold grudges for a long time.
