A Snake On A Plane

November 23, 2024 8:03 AM

This plane flight from the Western Australian town of Broome was going to be delayed because of a wild snake onboard, until a passenger identified it as a harmless species of python and gently removed it. (Stimson's python - Antaresia childreni - is often kept as a pet worldwide due to its small size, docile temperament, strong feeding response, resiliency and easy captive care. It is often seen as a good beginner species for keeping reptiles, particularly snakes.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (22 comments total)

Eep. It’s at least a good story for some of the people on the plane I guess.
posted by hankmajor at 8:06 AM on November 23 [1 favorite]

Aw! So glad it was safely caught and removed. Nice story for a grey and gloomy day.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:34 AM on November 23 [7 favorites]

Flight Attendant:
IS ANYBODY ON THE PLANE A HERPETOLOGIST?
posted by falsedmitri at 8:41 AM on November 23 [17 favorites]

THERE’S AN OK NUMBER OF MELONFARMING SNAKES ON THIS MELONFARMING PLANE; ONE LESS WOULD BE IDEAL, BUT WE’LL COPE.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:54 AM on November 23 [11 favorites]

Awww!! I'm happy for the snek that it was all resolved so quickly and sensibly!

Unfortunately, the usual overreaction in the States would be to blare sirens and flash bright lights while evacuating the undoubtably sue-crazy passengers through the emergency doors down slippy-slides, then quarantining the infested plane for a complete strip down to parts in *just in case* there was a squirming nest of potentially venomous cobras. Either that, or some entitled doofus claiming it was their Emotional Support Snake.

On second thought, there possibly could be someone out there with an Emotional Support Snake. It would be hard to tell--the little slitherer would keep shrugging out of the vest and slipping the leash.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:07 AM on November 23 [1 favorite]

I heard an interview with the guy who took the snake off the plane and I'm pretty sure I heard him say that the fearsome serpent in question was 10cm long.
posted by flabdablet at 9:46 AM on November 23

I see your airplane snake and raise you 130 hamsters
posted by chavenet at 9:46 AM on November 23 [2 favorites]

But of course it’s Australia. <3
posted by Melismata at 10:00 AM on November 23 [2 favorites]

Unbelievably Hollywood missed the line “calm down everyone, yes its a python, but it’s a Stimpson’s Python!”
posted by rongorongo at 11:51 AM on November 23

I’m disappointed Samuel L Jackson was not on the flight
posted by thivaia at 12:03 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]

Antaresia childreni stands for Children's python, not because it is suitable for young people, but for John George Children, who worked at the British Museum. Stimson's python is apparently a variant, named by L.A. Smith (pdf, 1985) "after Mr Andrew F. Stimson of the Zoology Department, British Museum (Natural History), in appreciation of his assistance to the Department of Ornithology and Herpetology, Western Australian Museum (particularly his readiness to lend type specimens)"
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 12:52 PM on November 23 [1 favorite]

I make no representation about the suitability of Antaresi childreni for children. Consult your herpetologist before giving your child any snake.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 12:59 PM on November 23 [6 favorites]

You know, chariot pulled by cassowaries, your last few posts have really made me want to speak up. This one is the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting all of these positive, happy stories at a time when so many of us northern antipodeans are bracing for dark times ahead. I am a bit of an amateur herper and so particularly appreciated that this story involved a harmless snake and a happy ending.
posted by TedW at 2:27 PM on November 23 [13 favorites]

9 out of 10 herpetologists recommend A. childreni for their students who have snakes

Ok I'll show myself out ...
posted by falsedmitri at 2:28 PM on November 23 [3 favorites]

9 out of 10 herpetologists recommend A. childreni for their students who have snakes

So what does the 10th one recommend?
posted by TedW at 3:54 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]

"So what does the 10th one recommend?"
Researching the word "Herpetologist" before committing to a field of study...
posted by E.C.Snapper at 4:20 PM on November 23 [1 favorite]

Turtles all the way.
posted by y2karl at 5:16 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]

So this fellow Stimson - he’s some kind of terrorist? Or a climate protester?
posted by Naberius at 5:48 PM on November 23

Some exotic-animal smuggler who got on the plane's previous flight with 500 snakes strapped to his body somehow arrived at his destination with only 499
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:00 AM on November 24 [2 favorites]

So what does the 10th one recommend?

The boomslang.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 2:50 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]

So Karl Schmidt was herpetologist 10?
posted by TedW at 4:41 PM on November 24

I was on a permaculture design course with Andre back in 2017 and followed his photographic and video work prior to Shipwreck Hunters and onto his new found internet fame with tight environment snake wrangling. He is unflappable. Shipwreck Hunters is... both held back and supported by its reality TV show structure. The highlights really are when Andre and the rest of the crew nerd out about the natural world as the marine archaeology side of things can be a bit mundane.
posted by pipstar at 7:28 AM on November 25