Stroke the Cobra

[armata]

Have a date with 120 children later today. I do not have a decent sized non-venomous for them to hold or touch.
So I will use a tubed cape cobra - anybody see anything wrong with that? I have a big mole snake but he would probably split the tube!! - plus he is fiesty. (some know who I am talking about)!

[nvlooi]

I don't see a problem with that - you are probably one of the most capable people to do this!

Enjoy.

[rolandslf]

What Henco said.

[Bushbaby]

What's nice is you can tell them that it's a once in a lifetime chance they will get to touch a live cobra. Just be careful and make sure you have complete control over the snake and the tube. When is doubt... don't.

[Bushviper]

My biggest worry if that kids might squeeze the snake (like a tube of toothpaste) and then I dont have a free hand to smack them. I have seen idiots do this with a necked snake so a tube is perfect for this situation. Let us know how it goes.

[zululand]

Glad you asked the question, I'm doing a talk tomorrow with some students from the UK and was thinking
of using a tubed Puff Adder to let them feel the keeled scales.
Then they can compare that with a nice Brown House Snake we have and handle the Boa we have for
just that purpose.

Glad I don't have a 120 though! Good luck!

[armata]

Just got back and there were 180 kids and they ALL stroked the cobra. I emphasise 'stroke' as no squeezing was allowed. There were kids from all cultures; I would love to see their moms and dads faces when their kids tell them!!

A lot of them handled jka's brown house as well, will post a photo.

[armata]

This girl wasn't too sure at first, but eventually she wanted to take the snake home! They were a very well behaved bunch.

[Wolf777]

Well done Armata it is always nice to see people get educated about snakes.

Is that specimen from up here in the north or do the ones with lots of white extending from the belly also occur in other places?

[BOOGY]

Leke oom Armata, gave me a good Idea! Thanks! Got my talk next week tuesday.

So by the way, that Brown house is just gorgeous!