all i can say is oh my god!!!!! why would someone do this?

Posted by: doug | May 31, 2007 05:22 PM

I would like to serve that f..... teacher to a 9 meter long anaconda, so he could fell how it is. That bastard!

Posted by: Marianne Christensen | May 31, 2007 05:30 PM

I would like to serve that f..... teacher to a 9 meter long anaconda, so he could fell how it is. That bastard!

Posted by: Marianne Christensen | May 31, 2007 05:30 PM

My other question, besides what the hell that teacher was thinking, is what the hell are the parents of the kid who brought in the PYTHON thinking?? The story is graphic enough, but to know that parents are allowing their kids to bring in like 5 foot snakes at home or in the classroom is just insane. What the F is wrong with these people?

Posted by: Court | May 31, 2007 05:43 PM

Just when I thought people couldn't possibly get any stupider...
Sure this happens in the wild, but at least there the rabbit would have a chance to escape. Too bad the snake didn't bite him in the cojones. Oh, I forgot, he doesn't have any.

Posted by: Mike | May 31, 2007 05:49 PM

That is NOT a humane way to have an animal destroyed.

Everyone, especially PETA, should contact the AVMA and humane law enforcement. This is legally animal cruelty.

This man belongs in jail. This is illegal, period.

The school needs to be punished too. Thank you for alerting me to this!

Posted by: Maya | May 31, 2007 05:52 PM

Ugh, how disgusting. It's not like we don't have hours worth of video footage of this sort thing available from nature programs...you know, where presumably the prey has a chance.

Posted by: Canaduck | May 31, 2007 06:28 PM

That's a really good "Christian" lesson for the kids to learn. This "school" and its administrators completely suck. He deserves to permanently lose his teaching license, if he has one to begin with, since he is only employed by a "Christian" school. And these religious assholes wonder why the rest of the country laughs at them???

Posted by: Kelley | May 31, 2007 06:33 PM

Anacondas only grow to about 7 meters or 22 feet. A real animal lover would know that.

Posted by: Jay | May 31, 2007 06:37 PM

OMG that is just sick. And at a so-called 'Christian' Academy, too...Don't they know that animals are God's creatures? That poor bunny, I will send a prayer to St. Francis for her...

Posted by: Tamara | May 31, 2007 07:10 PM

Just the thought that someone could do this makes me sick to my stomach. To know that an innocent animal was hung there, dangled, like bait. For what purpose? Amusement? It surely wasn't done for the intention of just feeding the snake, why else tape it? Animals don't have an option to fight back when they are forced down against their will with no where to run. Isn't the point to teach the kids about animals, to be kind and respect them? This teacher (and the students involved) should be ashamed.

Posted by: Traci Christenson | May 31, 2007 08:51 PM

OK, I know I'm in for a shitstorm here, but...

It's a python. It's what they do. You can't impose human opinion on them. I have smaller herps, so I feed mealworms and crickets. I don't keep anything larger because I know that I would having a hard time with feeding mice, rats or bunnies.

It's enough that people force vegan chow on dogs. Those big old canine teeth are kind of a hint as to what their diets should be.

The food chain exists, like it or not. As humans, we can rise above. But just as we don't have the right to pointlessly harm other animals, we also don't have the right to force them to go against their own nature.

Posted by: Marci | May 31, 2007 09:37 PM

But thats what the snakes eat?
Its its food thats what would happen in the wild.

Posted by: Quinton | May 31, 2007 10:55 PM

Its really horrible! Think of the rabbit, it would have cried in fear unable to escape!

Posted by: niranjan | June 1, 2007 02:02 AM

Oh My Gosh! That guy is... argh... anyone who abuses an animal should have to experience the same horrific thing on themself. I am appauled that it was then uploaded on YouTube. Even I, a 13 year old, has a kinder heart and more common sense then that teacher.

Posted by: Emilee | June 1, 2007 03:44 AM

Isn't that what pythons do though? Some animals do kill at eat other species of animals. That's just how nature is, and you can't change it.

Posted by: Sammy | June 1, 2007 05:01 AM

this is not a teacher, this is a monster. he has to be removed immediately and be taken by the law! also he exposes students and young people to extreme cruelty to animals. this is not a normal behaviour - if it would happen in the wilderness among animals alone it would be normal - but like this - never - he is a heartless beast!
by the way an important message for PETA:
yesterday someone told me that in chinese zoos they are feeding the tigers with living cows and calfs - the horror continues; goes on and on!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: one more blame | June 1, 2007 05:29 AM

I had a biology teacher in High School who did the same thing. I was traumatized by the experience. I cried the entire time. I realized that all those cute bunnies and hamsters at the pet store end up in some reptiles belly. We can't blame the snake because it's doing what's natural to him but the teacher, what an insensitive butt-hole.

Posted by: Janet Fitzgerald | June 1, 2007 07:46 AM

I would never go to that school now that I heard of this.

Posted by: Safira | June 1, 2007 11:57 AM

Did you read this part?

""It might be something uncomfortable for people to watch, particularly animal lovers. However this is a natural phenomenon. The way the animal ate is completely normal," said Kristen Key of Jacksonville Animal Care and Control."

Somneone needs to educate this painfully ignorant woman.

This is NOT what happens in the natural world. Grown men do not hold and dangle an animal and taunt another animal in "nature."

What other idiocy is going on in Jacksonville Animal Control? What other abuse are they tolerating?

And this school has some nerve calling itself "Christian!"

Posted by: kelly | June 1, 2007 01:16 PM

My husband and I have a pet snake but we don't make her feeding routine an entertainment show! Our friends have always asked to "watch" and have never been granted that right. Why a teacher would do this is beyond me, but obviously this person is not in a good moral standing to be an example for students.

Posted by: Tracy Crofford | June 1, 2007 01:26 PM

Bunnies purchased in a pet store are bred for companionship.When this happens in the wild the bunny at least has a shot at escape.These kids are desensitized.

Posted by: jeremy | June 1, 2007 03:54 PM

Ah, another crowning achievement in christian values. Maybe he should strangle a prostitute next?? Maybe drown a homosexual? Or maybe he can just go f*ck himself. Yeah, thats the one.

Posted by: Adam | June 1, 2007 04:23 PM

I have a 5 year old small pet corn snake but in his defence I feed it mice that have had good lives and are killed humanely and painlessly. Also he needs only to eat every two weeks or so.
Obvously you're not even supposed to feed pet snakes live food and I thought it was illegal to bring animals into classrooms?

asside from that it is such a bad example for children of that ageand it would inspire violence in them. We're fighting for the rights of animals and they're inspiring young people to hurt them.

Posted by: Darren Storey | June 1, 2007 05:06 PM

uuuhhhhh . . .
how else is the snake supposed to eat?
nobody there really cared . . .
that IS how it happens in nature
and why do you get to censor all of our comments? is it so you can only post the comments that agree with you? =(

Posted by: Ferno Klump | June 1, 2007 07:09 PM

Trinity Christian Academy badly needs education in order to become acceptably humane.

Posted by: prad | June 1, 2007 08:46 PM

I think this teacher needs to be suspended. Children these days have enough emotional problems to deal with and teaching them to be cruel to animals only makes it worse. As it has been shown those who are cruel to animals at a young age tend to be murders

Posted by: shana smith | June 2, 2007 12:39 AM

That's so messed up.I hope that teacher gets fired,and is made sure he never gets to teach again.What did that poor bunny do to him?

Posted by: Robin | June 2, 2007 01:47 AM

So why isn't this jerk not thrown in jail? Isn't this animal abuse???

Posted by: Haley | June 2, 2007 10:45 AM

How do such heartless people get recruited into schools?They are promoting cruelty , corrupting young minds and how come the school authorities are not doing anything or are they okay with this too?

Posted by: Caroline | June 2, 2007 10:53 AM

Hey how come none of the students felt sorry for the poor bunny? :(

Posted by: Angel | June 2, 2007 10:55 AM

Is this school for real???

Posted by: Sylvia | June 2, 2007 10:57 AM

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Posted by: Kenna | June 2, 2007 06:17 PM

holy shit that stupid motherfucker

Posted by: a | June 3, 2007 12:47 AM

That son of a bitch deserves to be fired, I myself care for rabbits immensley, its hard for me to even look at that photo.

Posted by: Larry | June 3, 2007 09:55 PM

Marci, don't worry, I won't be rude. ;)

But you say we shouldn't impose our opinion on the snake, and that we shouldn't impose on the snake's nature.

Yet keeping snakes as pets is the most unnatural, imposing act one could inflict on a snake or other wild animal. There is nothing natural about it.

Respectfully.

Posted by: Maya | June 4, 2007 01:41 PM

That stinks! If I was in the class I would of scooped up the snake and run out of the classroom and tell the principal, if the principal had a problem I would let the snake go m,go back to class, kick the teacher , grab the rabbit, and take this to the P.T.A. or the school board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!

Posted by: bob | June 4, 2007 08:59 PM

I think alot of valid points have been made, however while I agree that it's the law of nature for animals to eat smaller/lesser ones, Using needless exploitation and in my opinion bad ethics on animals to promte science and education is wrong and inhumane.

Animals that are indigenous to the wild, by there very nature get their own prey and should have food literally dangled in front of them.

This teacher should be stopped and reported!!!!

Posted by: pcb | June 5, 2007 12:48 PM

Has there been an update to this story? Has the school responded to PETA? I was sickened when I saw this story on our local newscast.

Posted by: MariaTeresaFaith | June 5, 2007 05:24 PM

Yes, snakes eat small animals in nature to survive. However, the teacher could have chosen to use a wildlife film for teaching the lesson. Having a snake in a classroom consume a store-bought bunny rabbit only teaches children insensitivity to another living creature's pain and suffering. The rabbit and snake were not in their natural habitats. The rabbit was probably domesticated. What a sad lesson on human compassion and reverence for life...

Posted by: mary drought | June 5, 2007 10:34 PM

You people are being idiotic, you know that right. I watched the video and nothing he did was wrong in any way. He is wrong for feeding a snake what it eats? Back in high school the school had a snake about 3 times bigger than this and it was common for our teacher to feed the snake a whole chicken so that the students could learn about how a snake eats. The only reason i see that he held the rabbit to feed it to the snake was that because with all the noise and commotion going on in the classroom the rabbit would have ran and hid somewhere. So which would be more cruel to the rabbit break it's neck then feed it to the snake or let the snake kill the rabbit the way it's instincts taught it to> you people need to quit being so up in arms about everything and just chill. No laws were broken and nothing moraly unsound was done here you bunch of cry babies.

Posted by: joeblack38 | June 6, 2007 10:31 AM

This is the most appalling act of cruelty by a bunch of callous, sadistic low-life in this so called "Christian" school!! The teacher, and all the students who "enjoyed" this horrific "entertainment" are total sickos with no place on this planet!!

Posted by: Colleen Fox | June 6, 2007 10:02 PM

As a rabbit rescuer, I find this APPALLING. Additionally, this is not "natural" at all. The rabbit was not wild nor was the snake. Rather the CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS RABBIT'S DEATH WAS SET UP ARTIFICIALLY BY A HUMAN BEING. As well, I would like to add: snakes are capable of eating small/medium dogs too... yet, if this had occurred on the video, this teacher would have been fired and convicted of animal cruelty. But I guess, according to the all-mighty CHRISTIAN RELIGION, some animals are more equal than others... right? Is this really WHAT JESUS WOULD DO? I love how the Christian parade all of their "what would Jesus do" key chains and tee-shirts around and yet, do NOT LIVE BY THEIR OWN MOTTO/LINGO. How horrible. This so called teacher should be FIRED!!! And the kids need to learn more the compassionate side of Jesus.

Posted by: Lisa Anne Nicolai | June 6, 2007 10:14 PM

As a rabbit rescuer, I find this APPALLING. Additionally, this is not "natural" at all. The rabbit was not wild nor was the snake. Rather the CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS RABBIT'S DEATH WAS SET UP ARTIFICIALLY BY A HUMAN BEING. As well, I would like to add: snakes are capable of eating small/medium dogs too... yet, if this had occurred on the video, this teacher would have been fired and convicted of animal cruelty. But I guess, according to the all-mighty CHRISTIAN RELIGION, some animals are more equal than others... right? Is this really WHAT JESUS WOULD DO? I love how the Christians parade all of their "what would Jesus do" key chains and tee-shirts around and yet, do NOT LIVE BY THEIR OWN MOTTO/LINGO. How horrible. This so called teacher should be FIRED!!! And the kids need to learn more the compassionate side of Jesus.

Posted by: Lisa Anne Nicolai | June 6, 2007 10:15 PM

That teacher is a pathetic, despicable excuse of a human being. He's a shell of a body minus a heart or soul. I have such contempt for him and people like him that have absolutely no regard for other little beings especially the innocent and defenseless. I could not look at the video but have been horrified and have had sleepless nights ever since I heard about this. I've been so furious and upset I wish I could have that teachers head on a silver platter. This was a blatant disregard of a precious, innocent, defenseless living being. I want justice.

And if I hear one more person say this is what phytons do I'm going to PUKE. Feed the effing thing frozen thawed foods. It's meat for God's sake. They can learn to eat it and sweet living creatures don't have to be sacrificed. It's just not acceptable and should not be tolerated.

Jenna

Posted by: Jenna Schissler | June 6, 2007 11:50 PM

Wow...I'm not even sure how to address this. First of all, we should not judge all Christians or the Christian religion by this one (very stupid) man's actions. He was obviously wrong and should not have done that, but most Christians do love and respect animals. Secondly, to Mary Drought, I am sad to read your comments. It hurts that so many people have gotten hardened to this subject. I am most sorry for the poor rabbit, who most likely was bred to be a pet. She would have been very frightened and I wish all the animals could be saved. I do think this is a very good forum to educate others and hopefully prevent this type of behavior in the future. I'm not sure what on earth the teacher was thinking, I know watching something like that would permanently damage me at 27, I can't imagine the affects of this at a young age. I hope the school takes appropriate action.

Posted by: Adrian from Charlotte, NC | June 7, 2007 01:27 PM

I am personally appaled by what I read in this article. Since when did we become a society that allows educators to present this to students as part of the curriculum? I hope the school looks into this and takes this matter seriously and also fires this teacher for what he did. As it is, this country is in need of good educators for our children and people like this tarnish that title. Thanks for allowing people to voice their opinion about this!

Posted by: claudia | June 7, 2007 05:42 PM

This is a complete outrage! What has our society degenerated itself to??!! As an owner and lover of rabbits, I am once again ashamed at what humans are doing to them. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"-Gandhi

Posted by: Cara | June 7, 2007 06:21 PM

This is a complete outrage! What has our society degenerated itself to??!! As an owner and lover of rabbits, I am once again ashamed at what humans are doing to them. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"-Gandhi

Posted by: Cara | June 7, 2007 06:21 PM

I work with some students from this school. They continually quote the bible, they talk religion like nobody's business and then they talk about hunting down prey with dogs. They talk about shooting stray cats. Their lack of concern for animals is not only appalling, it is scary. When I saw this video, with "christian" students laughing in the background, I wanted to vomit. The rabbit was dangled, moved up and down, and from side to side, so the snake had full knowledge of him or her. The rabbit also had full knowledge of the snake and continually backed up and tried to get away, but the fat legged biology teacher (they wouldn't show his face), would not let the rabbit go. Why did they not show this teacher's face? Why did they not caption his name under the video? Is he afraid of being "dangled" in front of the public for us to judge? The school later said they have respect for all god's creatures. What a joke! Heard this jack ass has done this before and the only reason it was stopped was when animal rights organiztions, like PETA, got involved. For those individuals who say this is completely natural, maybe they should be dangled in front of a big cat (lion/tiger). Isn't it natural for such an animal to feed on the human animal. Think their attitude would change mighty quick. Think they'd kick and scream. Ah, the human rabbit! Thanks PETA for being there, for those who don't have a voice! Just wished it could have been sooner.

Posted by: christine | June 12, 2007 12:41 AM

Who cares?! Snakes eat rabbits all the time in nature. What, are you PETA people going to teach the snake to eat vegetables? It's the circle of life, get over it!

*watches as the PETA people cry and make a candlelight vigil over some dead rabbit!*

Posted by: Haley | June 12, 2007 10:56 PM

Has the school done anything to this "teacher?" Has anything positive come out of this??

Note to Haley--you need to grow a heart and a conscience and join the human race. That rabbit was capable of feeling fear as well as you or I. This sort of display is not what happens in nature. Nature is much kinder sometimes than we are.

These children are being taught that life has no value besides what we choose to put on it. I believe this is one of the lessons the Nazi party put to good use when they began by murdering "useless" disabled people and quickly moved on to Jews, "Gypsies," (Roms) and anyone else who disagreed with them.

Abusive, sadistic behavior is usually taught to the young by others. This behavior is reinforced by adults and peers. Unfortunately, these kids are learning cruelty in school, and probably in their homes as well.

Posted by: Kelley | June 13, 2007 07:08 PM

I do have a heart and I obviously am part of the human race. And I am mad that you're comparing what this teacher did to the actions of Nazis.

How is nature any more kind? I've seen (and you have too) wild animals tear their prey limb from limb and then eat them. The python was doing what it naturally does. You can't turn a snake into a vegan, duh!

Posted by: Haley | June 14, 2007 10:53 AM

To Mary Drought: you have the nerve to say we're being idiotic? Haven't you read any of the comments? This was unnatural, and extremely cruel to the rabbit involved. To answer your question, yes, it would have been more humane if the rabbit was killed first. The fact is, in the wild that bunny would have had a chance to escape. So don't bother people with YOUR idiotic, uneducated, immature comments. Animal lovers will be upset about this cruel and unnatural act, so stop whining and deal with it.

Posted by: Sakura | June 17, 2007 01:52 PM

To Christine: Who cares? We do, obviously! Would you care if you were the one who was about to be eaten by that snake? If your child or someone close to you was eaten by one, would you still say it's only natural? Snakes may eat rabbits, but they're capable of eating humans too, same with lions and other carnivores. So if you're ok with a bunny being eaten, then you should have no problem with volunteering yourself for the snake's next meal. At least you would have the choice, unlike this innocent little bunny.

By the way, most people would rather gather around the poor, innocent dead bunny than a cruel, disgusting b*tch like you.

Posted by: Sakura | June 17, 2007 02:04 PM

Anyone mad about this is retarded. I think this was a great experience for everyone who saw. And it was definately NOT abuse is any way, shape, or form. I can't stress enough how ignorant you would have to be to think this is abuse.

Posted by: Sara | June 18, 2007 03:46 PM

Sara, I can't believe how ignorant you are for thinking this is natural? How is it natural to feed a DOMESTICATED bunny to a DOMESTICATED snake? You aren't even suppose to feed domesticated snakes live prey. I don't even own a snake and I know that, obviously you have no idea what you're talking about. In the wild, the bunny would have a chance to escape, and probably would due to how quick they can run and their sensitive hearing which warns them beforehand. In this case, the poor little animal was baited by being held down by a human hand. Not only that, but the room was full of jeering monsters who actually enjoyed seeing this horrible act and made a party out of it. This was clearly animal cruelty, and whoever thinks it's ok to hand feed live bunny rabbits to snakes are completely and utterly ignorant, not to mention heartless. This was an innocent baby bunny! It's alarming that there are people? who actually approve. It wasn't the least bit educational, it only taught future generations how to celebrate the torture and murder of animals, which is something people with a soul are trying to stop. If you want to watch helpless little animals being devoured by other creatures, then go rent a nature video where it's filmed in the wild where it's suppose to happen!

But then again, your opinion doesn't count anyway. Anyone who uses the word "retarded" has some serious growing up to do. How immature, ignorant, and arrogant you are. If you are so uneducated that you have no idea of what is natural and what is not, then don't post your opinion here. All you did was make yourself look even more stupid, especially with that "retarded" comment you used. Grow up and get educated.

I'm happy to see that most people who commented here sympathise with the poor bunny, and are not heartless monsters like Sara. As long as people who think? like her exist, animals will not get the rights they should have.

Posted by: Misa | June 20, 2007 03:26 PM

I just want to make a correction on my first post. It was not meant for Mary Drought, it was meant for joeblack38's idiotic comment. I didn't realize the names were at the bottom of the posts instead of the top. So apologies to Mary, and piss off Joe. Get used to the fact that there are people in this world who actually have a heart.

Posted by: Sakura | June 21, 2007 10:31 AM

oh come on people my brother had a snake and fed it live mice its very interesting to see that cause it shows how a snake kill its prey and thats pretty cool but peta got da damn thang goin on $$$

Posted by: josh | July 6, 2007 05:39 PM

Pore rabbit. Does that teacher have a heart?

Posted by: cristina | September 25, 2007 03:16 PM

My 7th grade teacher made us watch his python eat a rat.. i understand that bunnies are cute and everything... but some snakes eat them.. why does peta deny nature? why do we have canine teeth and peta thinks we should not eat meat? How the heck does peta expect the world to not be overpopulated with certain animals (deer for example)if we don't manage them? I used to be naive.. I used to deny the truth.. Sometimes killing some animals is for the best.. I know this doesn't have much to do with this article.. I'm just venting about peta people... Don't get me wrong... I love animals with all of my heart.

Posted by: Raych | September 25, 2007 11:15 PM

PETA is no good, a snakes have to eat. I feed my snakes mice and it's no problem.

Posted by: Anonymous | October 13, 2007 12:43 PM

For everyone saying "what kind of Christian school would do that"... Duh. The Good Lord made the animals for us to eat. He also made them for other animals to eat. Yeah, the rabbit may have a chance to get away, but eventually the snake will eat a rabbit, or a chicken, because THAT'S IT'S DIET. Misa, I have a pet snake, and I feed it live mice sometimes, it's perfectly normal. There was nothing wrong with this. Instead of watching it on a T.V, like I did today in class, having live animals in class would be so much more interesting and i'm sure the kids in the class would get much more out of it.

Posted by: Andria | November 6, 2007 09:45 PM

Um... Are animals not allowed to eat animals too now?

Posted by: Belcher | November 17, 2007 07:45 PM

I think we should kill all the predators out there in the petshops and only keep pets that don't eat meat...

my lands, you bunch of bleeding hearts.

Posted by: Mike | November 21, 2007 02:12 PM

o mygosh i hate that teacher.

Posted by: Anonymous | November 26, 2007 07:16 PM

me and my friend think this is so discusting. That teacher should have a dose of his own medicine. the people who thought this is cool are so cruel and mean. I would kill that teacher if i was in that class. I would also have told the principle before that idiot teacher killed that poor inosent rabbit. I would like to know were that teacher lives. I would go to his house and show him my own medicine.

Posted by: maKENNA | December 10, 2007 11:47 PM

Well, I suppose that I am an animal lover. I volunteer at a reptile rescue center. A small charity set up on old farm land in the 80's. people have a lot of misconceptions here. (we take rescues from the RSPCA and so on) everything from iguanas to Burmese pythons. we have a cayman croc) and until recently an alligator.

firstly 'this is not natural' well, yes it is. Snakes don't naturally eat things other than meat. they are carnivorous. the guy couldn't feed it lets say brussel sprouts.

secondly 'this is cruel' that rabbit (I've seen the video) would have died very quickly. the power of the snake's constriction likely broke its spine in seconds, then asphyxiated it in around a minute. so it didn't feel any pain either. (further confirmed by movements of the animal)

'it would have had a chance of escape in the wild' not really snakes are awesome predators. when it strikes or stalks an animal it will get it.

furthermore the students were given the choice to leave. and yes the teacher could have use d footage, but you can't see it as well as you can like that.

another misconception here is that 'your only meant to feed domestic snakes dead food' wrong! many 'domestic' snakes particularly large pythons like this will only eat stuff they kill, as per instinct.

here's the thing. where i volunteer with these animals we have to do this. fact of life. snake eat small animal. but should we not feed it? let the snake die? isn't that the point of rescuing it in the first place.

people here seem to need to grow up. its nature a snake eating. nothing more. its kills it more efficently than you could with your bare hands if you had to.

just because its fluffy and cute doesn't mean it isn't a part of the food chain.

odds are it was time for the snake to eat anyway, the owner brought it in and it was used as part of a relevent lesson. this live demonstation teaches people well. its shocking to some. but at the end of the day, maybe some of you should go and protest to snakes in wild.

Posted by: daniel | December 30, 2007 11:39 PM

Hmm, ran across this article while looking for information on Raising Rabbits (go figure).

All of you having issues with this (which is seems like most of you) seriously have some personal issues that you need to address. Namely common sense about animals (specifically predators) and their natural behaviors. Never ceases to amaze me the things so called animal lovers (PETA) will say. Before any of you go saying that it isn't natural for a human to dangle the rabbit in front of the snake, I ask this, how would it be any different for the teacher to have taken it from a cage (which it must have been in) and pre killed it? In nature snakes will lie there and wait while their prey walks helplessly to their death (we're merely talking semantics).

With that said I feed my boa pre killed (though a previous one I owned I fed it live), but not because it's cruel, rather because it keeps the snake more docile (and fortunately he is willing to take the pre killed prey). I would start feeding it live immediately if it started refusing to eat pre killed.

Posted by: Jack | April 2, 2008 12:56 AM

how can some one do something like this i bet they wouldnt like if something like this would happen to them "Every vertebrate animal with a back bone have the same nerves as a human" news flash the feel PAIN !!!!

Posted by: stephanie miller | April 16, 2008 12:50 PM

Everyone, this isn't animal cruelty. If you think it is, you are out of tune with the rhythm of Mother Gaia and her wild children. This is how the great circle of life continues.

Posted by: Earth Mother | August 7, 2008 06:14 PM

number one this is the most premeditaded sick unatural act for both prey and predator, neither are in a tropical rainforest and where do these idiots get these ideas bigger snakes have to have bunnies to eat otherwise they die Wrong! does a burmese python have domestic rabbits to eat in the rainforest of Burma No! neither does a ball python and snake owners know this do they have humans in the rainforest helping them hunt or getting food for them No! and rabbits are the sweetest, most intelligent playful inquisitive pet a human could ever research and learn to take care of yes they are allot of work and have specialized health issues that can lead to expensive exotic pet bills, I've saved allot of rabbits and rescued allot and am more or less a bunny expert and death by a snake is gruesome and painful and not humane at all and not a death anyone should force on a rabbit especialy or chinchilla or guinea pig or hamster, it's constiction with no breath and the snake crushes bones and organs when the animal is still alive and awake and in the wild the prey has some chance to get away in that situation it is not a fair match at all and absolutely hoorifying and terrifying for the prey and the prey can convey feeling like why doesn't anyone love me or what did i do that was so bad humans won't take me home research what i need and my care and give me the love and nutrition and health care I need after I've been housed at shelters and dumped here and there this is not how you treat bunnies that are bred that are domestic which means not wild never to be released ever in the wild house pets and as for the snake there is no such thing as 100% domestic burmese or ball python ever yes they still need food brought to them but they belong in the rainforest not bred not in captivity as I have read up on their care and the exotic animal trade needs to get their nuts shot off for breeding them unless they are going to add to their species in the wild and because of the bacteria due to global warming that is killing thousands of these creatures in the wild we need them there and in conservation projects and so do other species! Snakes that are so big or exotic even zoos at times have a hard time keeping them well and alive, they do carry certain bacteria need an extensive set up , humidifier tubs, strict heat and humidity controls where a few degrees off could mean life or death for that snake to and they poop like a horse ball pythons and Burmese pythons and it does smell because they eat meat and can be hard to handle and keep once adults so people think everyone at all ends of this needs to take the blame. Do not support breeders who breed these snakes at all hit them in the pocket book because these snakes are hardwired and do have some natural wild instincts left no matter if they were raised in the wild or not, so they are a mixture of human screw-up and interferance where humans have contankered with them and mixed up their whole being, and unless you can bring a rainforest to your'e home I suggest not it is not cool to see the inhumane cruel brutal torture of a bunny that looks like mine dangle helplessly to his death and torture him kids stop your'e sick bastard ass teacher and have him arrested for animal abuse call peta call the anticruelty society call anyone, do not let him get away from this and it's inhumane to raise snakes with improper snake care in cativity for show neither animal is a fucking toy but I call on you kids to put an end and put down your'e foots as I have done allot in the past and say No More! to any of this animal brutality sickness and cruelty and put your'e so called teacher in a mental hospital because he is truly truly sick and this is not a joke or help send him to prison and he won't subject any more animals to this and won't have kids look at his sick mental problem so go to it and stop him! I've stepped on allot of toes in defense of animals and even risked my life for some! they are 100% worth it and he has no right to do this to animals or you guys the kids make his ass toast demand he be fired obviously good luck and go for it!

Posted by: Nancy Pech | October 23, 2008 02:37 PM

this is not natural, not necessary, not humane and little miss Sarah and the dumb woman who said something about gaia and nature is an idiot. pythons can never 100% be domesticated, can and will eat other things besides live prey or rabbits and their decendants and ancestors were wild and forever they have wild imprints, they are neither 100%domestic or wild they are a combination of both and do not eat bunnies in the rainforest or guniea pigs or chinchilla's and do not have a human bring them all their meals dummies! so right there it is unatural. I beg people to leave these snakes and their species in the wild and not take them as pets. I call on people to replenish the little that is left of the rainforest with these snake species by not supporting breeders and buying them, it is not exotic or cool to see these animals either abandoned and left to die outside because no places and shelters will take them and their upkeep and strict and rigid temperature and humidity needs and diet needs are not for any of us novices to tackle. You do 1 thing wrong with reptiles in diet, habitat, cleening,temperature, and housing and you will kill them shortly. I call on legislation to limit these animals to conservation projects,zoos, reptile rescues and sanctuaries and experts with reptiles. They can live 25 years and some species grow 20 feet long, people know this and poop allot and your'e house will smell like a reptile house! also for the bunny they are the sweetest most friendliest, most intelligent, playful, beautiful creatures I've ever rescued and have adopted and they can be expensive to maintain if they come from anywhere, rabbits are pets not snake food and people should know snakes crush bones and organs on live animals when they are still awake and then suffocate them it's brutal. Rabbits are exotic animals and people read up and do me a favor keep them inside air conditioned and out of heat and drafts, they eat kale collards, carrots, romaine and timothy hay only!!!!!!! there are some health issues you can and will run into with rabbits, back issues that need chiropractic otherwise they can get runny poo, dehydrate they dehydrate fast and die, you have to keep their teeth shaved down, they have no vaccines, and treat any nasal lung problem coughing, sneezing, rubbing of nose because they can get a permanent head tilt or pneumonia from this. I had a bunny with this and it is not curable or treatable. i knew what to do and he had great vets so he survived. As for the guy the kids should demand he be fired with no pay, arrested and sent to a mental facility for evaluation because he got a sick kick out of torturing that bunny dangling him to his death and in the wild he maybe could have gotten away, this way the inhumane peice of crap gave him no chance of escape and that my friends is not natural and would not happen in the wild the predetor has to hunt on it's own with no human help and the prey may have a chance to escape and the absolute fear, anguish,and shear terrorthat poor bunny felt until he went to his gruesome death is unforgivable, he was beautiful and was like my Bucky who I raced into my burning house 5 times to save and want back still so badly and he looks like Dakota the guy i have now so how dare this sob or anyone take one more innocent life ever or how dare anyone and snakes can be skinned alive by a rabbits incisors or mauled and can die from being impaled to so kids stop this sob now and do not fear to step on anyones toes ever to save any animals! this is inhumane to both animals! I do not and never feared anyone or anything when it comes or came to defending any animal and I stepped on a ton of human toes and everything because I have done allot of animal saving in my lifetime do not be afraid to speak out and go against every grain you can you are their only voice and they need it more now than ever than still even humans do good luck Nancy P

Posted by: Nancy Pech | October 23, 2008 08:02 PM

DISGUSTING excuse for a human being. You know what does get me excited, though? The fact that this so called "instructor" will experience the exact same form of torture someday. It's just how the universe works!

I just wish I could be there to witness his punishment so I could record it and post it on YouTube. It would be an opportunity to teach his students about the circle of life and the inevitability of punishment for our sins, especially those that involve the cruel mistreatment of living things that are disabled or unable to defend themselves.

Why didn't he just let himself be the prey for the snake?? There is a chance that if he were in the wild, he could be attacked and meet his death. That would be so educational to the students about the food chain!

Posted by: Linda | July 7, 2009 02:12 PM

Some of the comments here are just unbelievably naive and ignorant.

Next time you eat a burger or chicken, consider where that meat came from and the process it went through. I promise you, those animals DO NOT die a peaceful sweet death.

How convenient it is to hypocritically gloss over these facts of life while criticizing an an instinct-driven animal. The instructor made the demonstration OPTIONAL, nobody had to see it if they didn't want. Snakes eat ANIMALS. They do not eat fruit or sandwiches, they eat animals. Many snakes only accept live animals. Thats LIFE. Just because the snake is not in its native habitat, that is absolutely no reason to deny it food.

Just because someone else slaughters the animals YOU eat, that does NOT absolve you of their deaths. This is the food chain at work.

Consider the double standard; denying the python its food will lead to death by starvation... does this mean the life of the rabbit is more valuable than that of the python, because the rabbit is cute and eats vegetation? The python deserves to die because it does not conform to HUMAN philosophies of "animal rights"?

What would Jesus do? He would feed the rabbit to the snake, and the snake to the eagle. When the eagle dies it enriches the soil to provide for vegetation, to be eaten by the rabbits. This is nature at work. Just because a human enabled the process, that does not inherently make the process unnatural.

Posted by: Leaf | July 29, 2009 01:00 PM