Animal Diaries Archive

Chill out with a Burmese!

26 August 2005

I don't reckon you can come to Australia Zoo without having an up-close and personal experience with one of the most beautiful and fascinating animals on the face of the earth; that'd have to be a snake!

There are countless opportunities during the day to check out a wide variety of snakes, but only a couple of chances to hang a three-metre Burmese Python around your neck. We're very proud of our beautiful Burmese Pythons, and although they were bred here at the Zoo over 15 years ago, we still refer to them as our babies.

This species of python is found throughout south-east Asia, usually in grasslands, marshes, swamps and jungles with open clearings. They can live up to about 25 years of age, growing to a total length of five metres.

Snake photos take place twice a day at the Zoo, and we have six Burmese pythons that we are currently using for photos (they're all brothers and sisters). Because we have handled them from a very young age, they show no fear of humans whatsoever, so I can assure you they are extremely friendly.

I'm telling you, this is an experience of a lifetime. If you check out the photo, I'm sure you'll find the expression on the lady's face in the middle will just about sum it up for you.