Baby "plays" with Cobra.

[jackie]

I saw that in the paper the other day.

Some people are messed in the head. I wonder if they did it so they could sell the tape to make money?

[Muddy4paws]

I saw this too, How the hell do they get away with it? a real loving mother wouldnt put that kind of crap on a child.

[luckies4me]

It's a VERY common practice for parents to have their children play with these snakes as it teaches them from an early age not to be afraid of them, since there are so many around their parts. Honestly I'd be more concerned the little girl was crawling around with no bottoms on! As far as starving, just because you have the pits and fangs removed does not mean the animal starves. This is a common practice as well with many herp keepers. I've held a black cobra (not sure exactly what kind) with fangs intact, and he was the sweetest snake ever. The lady who owned him also had many other venemous snakes, but with most of their fangs/pits removed. I assure you they are all fine and eat on a regular basis. The only way he can starve is if his mouth was sewn shut, and we have no idea if it was. I feel a lot worse for the snake, not knowing why there is a child tugging at him, but he doesn't seem to mind too much. As far as strangulation, this may be a slight possibility, but it's not a constrictor. Chances are slim. The child shows no fear, and honestly has no idea her "toy" is a snake.

This isn't the only tape like this out there. There are many many others. This tape is also on You Tube, along with many similar videos.

Here is some info on venomoids.
http://venomoidinc.com/home/index.ph...id=7&Itemid=28

http://devenomized.com/forum/

[honeybeezercattalina]

Thats just sick...

I havnt seen the vid since I dont know what one it is, but those parents mustve been so cold hearted.

[Miss Z]

I'm surprised the baby didn't scream. If I'd have been that age and a snake lunged at me, I'd have been bawling my eyes out.

If it really is to stop the child fearing snakes, I can't help but think that perhaps if the child ever comes across a real venemous snake with glands and fangs intact that she will think it's fine to try and pick it up. That would be awful.

I feel sorry for that snake. It was obviously completely riled as its hood was flaring.

[Alysser]

I saw this video a couple of days ago for the first time and I was shocked. I searched how the baby could still possibly be living through it because I thought the Cobra still had his fangs intact. I came across and article on "de-fanging". It's much like declawing a cat, only worse since they starve to death eventually. I find the whole act sickening, using an animal for such entertainment purposes. It's sick, really sick.

[luckies4me]

I saw this video a couple of days ago for the first time and I was shocked. I searched how the baby could still possibly be living through it because I thought the Cobra still had his fangs intact. I came across and article on "de-fanging". It's much like declawing a cat, only worse since they starve to death eventually. I find the whole act sickening, using an animal for such entertainment purposes. It's sick, really sick.

I don't know what link you came across but devonomizing a snake is nothing compared to declawing a cat. Did you even read the links I posted? There are many many venomoids out there kept in the herp trade. They do not starve to death.

They are not using the animal for entertainment purposes, but for educational purposes. Do you know how many of these snakes would be killed each and every day if the parents did not teach their children early on to respect them? They would be out there slaughtering snakes all the time!

[luckies4me]

I'm surprised the baby didn't scream. If I'd have been that age and a snake lunged at me, I'd have been bawling my eyes out.

If it really is to stop the child fearing snakes, I can't help but think that perhaps if the child ever comes across a real venemous snake with glands and fangs intact that she will think it's fine to try and pick it up. That would be awful.

I feel sorry for that snake. It was obviously completely riled as its hood was flaring.

Why would the baby scream? It has no idea what is going on. Do you see any fear in the child's eyes? The kid is still a baby, and has no idea that this animal could have hurt her if it still had it's venom. The kid is clueless. The kids in these parts grow up with these snakes, some become snake charmers. They learn to respect the snakes from an early age. The parents teach them not to just go grab any snake they see, but being exposed to them early on helps them learn not to fear them.

I don't know if you know much about cobras or not, but it's very easy to get them to show their hood. If you watch the snake he doesn't look too worked up at all. He would have tried striking many many times if he were truly upset.

There is no difference between putting this child in front of a snake or putting a cat/kitten in front of it. A cat is going to do a lot more damage to the kid than this snake. But hey, us parents do it every day. How many toddlers you see walking around holding kittens by the head, pulling on ears and tails etc?

You gotta remember people, this is in INDIA, not the United States. Very different culture there!

[Miss Z]

Why would the baby scream? It has no idea what is going on. Do you see any fear in the child's eyes? The kid is still a baby, and has no idea that this animal could have hurt her if it still had it's venom. The kid is clueless. The kids in these parts grow up with these snakes, some become snake charmers. They learn to respect the snakes from an early age. The parents teach them not to just go grab any snake they see, but being exposed to them early on helps them learn not to fear them.

I don't know if you know much about cobras or not, but it's very easy to get them to show their hood. If you watch the snake he doesn't look too worked up at all. He would have tried striking many many times if he were truly upset.

There is no difference between putting this child in front of a snake or putting a cat/kitten in front of it. A cat is going to do a lot more damage to the kid than this snake. But hey, us parents do it every day. How many toddlers you see walking around holding kittens by the head, pulling on ears and tails etc?

You gotta remember people, this is in INDIA, not the United States. Very different culture there!

Babies scream or cry if you drop pots and pans on the floor. They get scared if you jump out at them or say 'boo' just that little bit too suddenly. Thus I would imagine the quick action of a snake strike towards the face would shock a baby. Evidently not in this case, but it surprised me that she wasn't scared.

The part which I've highlighted in bold I think emphasises the point I was trying to make. If she doesn't have a clue what's going on, then she's not going to tell the difference between what to and not to touch. I appreciate what you said about not fearing them and being taught not to grab any snake, but she's not going to understand that until she's got some lingual skills. Once she starts to toddle around, no doubt she'll go for a wander in snake habitat, and that's when she's in danger.

Snake-charming is an age-old tradition but is dying out in our modernising world, for a start, it's declared illegal in India. They're no longer allowed to trap their own animals, and new forms of street entertainment have outdated it. Earnings are meager. I'm sure that many Indian parents will wish a more stable and profitable future for their sons and daughters now.

I know cobras can show their hood pretty easily, but that cobra is in striking stance almost all the time and to me at least he looks pretty peeved.

I did a bit of research on the process of defanging/devemonising, and from what it looks like it seems very difficult and precise. Seems like the botch rate is pretty high, no doubt in poor suburbs the sufficient technology to perform the operation is not always available. I researched a little further and found a couple of quotes on how many snake-charmer snakes suffer from mouth ulcers.

I see your point about how a kitten is no different to a snake in terms of behaviour with a baby, but I personally don't agree with letting kids and animals mix until the child has been fully taught when not to tug anymore, and that it should always be under adult supervision.