Snake-killer fined $700 over shock video

A antheral has been fined $700 aft filming himself decapitating a python and posting it to societal media.

The video showed the antheral throwing the snake connected the ground, earlier utilizing a shovel to decapitate and ultimately, termination the snake astatine a spot successful Munruben, southbound of Brisbane.

The antheral was fortunate to flight with a $718 fine, with the maximum punishment for the offence being implicit $14,000.

Senior wildlife serviceman Jonathan McDonald described the video arsenic “extremely cruel and unnecessary”.

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science became alert of the video successful June aft a subordinate of the nationalist sent them the video.

“During interviews with the man, helium admitted helium had antecedently utilized snake catchers successful the past to region snakes from his property,” Mr McDonald said.

“He besides admitted to sidesplitting the snake and conceded to wildlife officers it was the incorrect happening to do.

Mr McDonald warned Queensland residents that snakes volition go much progressive arsenic the upwind warms up, and they statesman to hunt for a mate and hunt for food.

“People request to beryllium alert that snakes are commonly recovered successful residential areas, and astir radical get bitten erstwhile they effort to grip snakes,” helium said.

“If anyone sees a snake, radical should backmost distant and permission it alone. If the snake is wrong your house, adjacent a doorway if indispensable oregon permission the room.

Locals are urged to telephone a licensed wildlife removal and relocation work if it needs to beryllium removed, and don’t instrumentality matters into your ain hands oregon you volition get a fine.

Anyone with accusation astir incidents similar this is encouraged to telephone 1300 130 372.

Under the Nature Conservation Act (1992) it is an offence to take, oregon termination a protected carnal unless the idiosyncratic is authorised nether the act.