Nero Egernia
Well-Known Member
A video of a relocation. I found this distressing to watch. Seeing it thrash about like that strongly reminded me of a snake that had just been ran over.
Seeing it thrash about like that strongly reminded me of a snake that had just been ran over.
I agree that the tongs are overkill.I've never used tongs, I don't even ever remember touching a pair, And I can't think of any moments where I would consider "oh, this is a tong scenario." It's extremely rare that I use a pinner. I can only imagine though that with a snake that constricts, like an eastern brown, once 'tonged' , if it were to panic and constrict the tongs, and then exert strength to try and pull back to free itself, it could easily damage itself. Theres a point where if you've got a snake by the mid to tail section and its got the first quarter of the length of its body in a hole or wrapped around timbers etc, you can feel it exertion as it pulls away, and there is no way you can just pull on it like a tug of war without damage, so you have to simply let it go.
With tongs though, I would imagine that there is no contact so no feel, and the snake could twist and exert, putting way to much pressure on muscles and vertebrae, in an unnatural movement, making it really easy to injure itself. Sort of like when you do a simple little move which is out of alignment and bang , there goes your back.
I could go one about training courses and training providers and the fact that I believe the current system in place for issuing not just removal licenses but also to certify people as competent training providers in all States & Territories is in desperate need of an overall but I’ve said enough and will leave it for another day.
@GBWhite has a very good point about an overhaul of the current certification requiring a review IMO.
There is no need to get testy about buddy.Well sorry Scullatus for not being so precise and detailed in my thoughts. Does this sound any better - Keep in mind I don't, have never, and probably will never use tongs. so the chances of me first hand seeing what they are capable of or testing them probably won't happen. But I've been relocating snakes for well over a decade, in fact I was out till 2am this morning.
"I think the twisting would break vertebrae and ribs in the location of the tongs." Exactly.
They can't twist without exerting pressure from muscles. Who says the snake isn't cold, doesn't have an injury already?
And whats a chiropractic injury anyway? But seeing you brought it up, its a good way to explain what I mean. Think of it as a reverse Chiro treatment.
You basically agreed with me without even knowing it.
The only tongs I'm using are the BBQ tongs to turn my snags.I’d only ever use the tongs as a feeding tongs so I’m not within striking distance of a venomous snake
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