[Ammi]

A snake escaped from a pet shop and killed two children in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, police say.

In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they believed the reptile had strangled two boys, aged five and seven, in Campbellton.

The boys were staying overnight at a friend's apartment above the pet shop.

Police said they believe the snake slipped out of its cage overnight and travelled through the ventilation. The serpent has been captured by police

Officers were called to the address on Monday morning where the two boys were found dead, said a police statement. The flat was located above the Reptile Ocean exotic pet store.

"The preliminary investigation has led police to believe that a large exotic snake had escaped its enclosure at the store sometime overnight, and got into the ventilation system, then into the upstairs apartment," said the statement.

Post-mortem examinations will be performed on the two boys, thought to be brothers, on Tuesday. No charges have been laid so far.

Campbellton's deputy mayor, Ian Comeau, said the incident was a "tragedy".

"The city is in shock," he added.

Experts say attacks by exotic snakes are extremely rare.

David Rogrigue, director of Montreal's Ecomuseum Zoo, told Agence France-Presse news agency that this attack was "difficult to believe... very, very extraordinary, and very improbable".

In a Facebook message, Reptile Ocean wrote: "Deepest sympathies goes out to the family of the children. A terrible accident without a meaning."

The store said it would temporarily suspend its online account because users had posted "demeaning comments".

Initial reports suggested the reptile may have been a boa constrictor, but officials later said they believed it was an African rock python.

The owner of Reptile Ocean told CTV News that he had had the snake since 2001


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23583116

[Z]

Read this on BBC yesterday, such a tragedy

[Kyle]

Really sad news

[Marc]

This is so so sad

But this seems shady.. why would it just strangle and not eat or just strangle around the neck? (assuming it was the neck)

[RichardG]

Very sad story, but when I heard about it yesterday there was a lot of suspicion online over what really happened. For a start, some are confused at how the snake even managed to climb up such a tall, smooth ventilation system in the first place. For it then to fall through the ceiling and strangle the two boys, whilst their friend remained fast asleep in the other room, sounds strange. Surely they would have woken up and screamed a bit if they were being strangled by a snake? Or at least the sound alone of such a large and heavy snake falling from the ceiling to the ground should have made a large bang. You would imagine that would wake them up too. Things just do not add up!

Either way, two young boys have died far too early than they should have. Apparently the snake in question isn't even legal to have as a pet in Canada.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by RichardG

Very sad story, but when I heard about it yesterday there was a lot of suspicion online over what really happened. For a start, some are confused at how the snake even managed to climb up such a tall, smooth ventilation system in the first place. For it then to fall through the ceiling and strangle the two boys, whilst their friend remained fast asleep in the other room, sounds strange. Surely they would have woken up and screamed a bit if they were being strangled by a snake? Or at least the sound alone of such a large and heavy snake falling from the ceiling to the ground should have made a large bang. You would imagine that would wake them up too.

Either way, two young boys have died far too early than they should have. Apparently the snake in question isn't even legal to have as a pet in Canada.

Yeah it just doesn't add up to me. All I know is that two little innocent boys are dead and the cause needs to be found

[Ammi]

..the article said 'no charges have been laid so far' and they wouldn't be charging the snake so maybe there is something else suspected, but hopefully they'll find out with the post mortem...

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..the article said 'no charges have been laid so far' and they wouldn't be charging the snake so maybe there is something else suspected, but hopefully they'll find out with the post mortem...

I'm assuming they meant that towards gross negligence on the owners part?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Simple Minds

I'm assuming they meant that towards gross negligence on the owners part?

..hmmm possibly but I don't think they've 'caught' the snake yet so I wonder if and why they think this is what happened...

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..hmmm possibly but I don't think they've 'caught' the snake yet so I wonder if and why they think this is what happened...

I can't see anywhere if it says the snake is a constrictor but even then you would assume it at least attempted to eat them right? I don't get why it would do that and then slither off

[Z]

Well if it had been kept in captivity for so long it probably just had an urge to kill because it hadn't been able to in such a long time... that would be my guess

[Kyle]

Maybe but I thought snakes only killed when they wanted to feed? Maybe a snake expert on here would know more idk.

It's useless for us to speculate until we have all the details I guess.

[Z]

Originally Posted by Simple Minds

Maybe but I thought snakes only killed when they wanted to feed? Maybe a snake expert on here would know more idk.

It's useless for us to speculate until we have all the details I guess.

I've no idea, that does ring a bell but I guess if it was deprived of its urges then that explains why it got out of its cage. Snakes seem to escape without a trace on a regular basis with no obvious explanation how they got out.

[Tom4784]

There's not many animals that kill for the thrill of it, it's strange that this snake would have escaped and killed these boys without attempting to eat them or something. My guess is that something far darker happened.

[Samm]

Very sad

[smudgie]

I had no suspicions until I heard the interview with the shop owner.
He sounded far too matter of fact and absolutely no sign of any sorrow at this terrible incident.
Maybe i feel it is too much of a coincidence that he had this snake so long and it only "escaped" the night these 2 young children were staying over.

Hopefully the pm's will show the truth.