Footage of several children using a python like a skipping rope has sparked an environmental investigation.
Video of the children in Woorabinda, 130km from Rockhampton in Queensland, has been viewed hundreds and thousands of times on social media.
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesman confirmed an investigation has been launched into the matter.
‘We ask all Queenslanders to treat animals with respect, whether they are alive or dead,’ he said.
‘We condemn this inappropriate behaviour and will investigate the incident.’
‘The maximum fine for a person found guilty of killing or injuring a black-headed python is $12,615.’
‘The killing or injuring of native animals should be reported to the Department of the Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation or the RSPCA.’
In the video, the children could be seen jumping over the huge 2.5m python as two kids swung it.
Children in a remote community in Queensland were filmed jumping a 2.5m python
A woman could be heard asking what the snake was, before a kid informed her it was a python
A woman could be heard saying: ‘Show me that, show me what it is’.
‘It’s a black-headed python,’ one of the children replied.
Black-headed pythons are non-venomous snakes native to northern Australia.
They instead kill their prey by constricting.
The DESTI spokesman said that, in general, snakes prefer not to attack people.
‘Snakes usually prefer to retreat when disturbed, but if they feel threatened they can become defensive,’ he said.
‘Most snake bites occur when people try to catch or kill the animals.’
Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers slammed the horrifying footage.
‘The saddest part about this video is that the children were being encouraged by an adult to carry out this behavior,’ a post read on Instagram.
‘It’s extremely important that parents educate their children on respecting wildlife so incidents like this don’t continue to happen.
‘We have seen a big increase lately in members of the public catching snakes or hurting/killing snakes like in this video, and it’s sickening to watch.’
