Animal welfare authorities say a man filmed enjoying a beer while taking his pet snake for a swim in Australia could be guilty of animal cruelty.
A video of Steve Brimelow, from Queensland, swimming with his python Dora in a creek went viral on the internet this week.
Mr Brimelow repeatedly throws the snake in the water then waits for it to slither back to him. The pet is believed to be a carpet python. At the end of the short clip he appears to pick up his pet up and hold its high in the air before kissing its snout.
Michael Beatty, a spokesman for the Queensland branch of the RSPCA, said that it was potentially a case of animal cruelty.
“It is cruel, but it’s also gross stupidity rather than deliberate animal cruelty,” Mr Beatty said. “I’m sure the person concerned basically believes he loves his snake.”
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RSPCA reptile experts have told Mr Beatty that the snake would likely be in distress.
“Although snakes will occasionally go in the water, it’s not something they do or particularly like on a regular basis,” he said.
“That snake would just be trying to get out of the water as quickly as possible and [the man] is its means of just getting out of the water.”
Mr Beatty said it appeared Mr Brimelow was in breach of the terms of his snake-owner’s licence. “[The snake] has to stay within the confines of your home, you aren’t allowed to take it out unless obviously, you’re taking it to the vet or you have a special licence for educational purposes,” he said.
“It’s unlikely this guy’s got any sort of licence like that.”
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The incident was captured on video by an aspiring rock singer, Mr Indiana Bones, who lives nearby.
“My dad keeps snakes and I’ve never seen anyone at the beach with one, dancing around, kissing one,” Bones told Yahoo7. “I was impressed. I was flat out impressed.”
Queensland state officials said they were discussing the case with police.