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A 14-foot female Burmese python named Chloe used to be considered the staff and spectators’ favorite among all the animals at the local aquarium in Tarpon Springs, Florida. But that was before Chloe mistook the hand of 18-year-old Alison Cobianchi, an aquarium employee and St. Petersburg College freshman, for something to eat. The snake attacked, sinking her teeth into Cobianchi’s knuckles and wrapping around her arm and waist.
The staff had never had any problems with the large reptile and had no idea just how strong the animal’s grip was. In fact, it took a jolt with a Taser to get Chloe to unhinge her jaw from the girl’s arm and return to its cage.
Cobianchi, who was treated at a hospital for minor hand wounds, said she would never go near a snake again.
“It was definitely the most scary and painful thing that has ever happened to me,” she told reporters during her recovery process at her home.
“I knew I wasn’t going to die, but I was worried I wouldn’t get my hand back.”
The incident occurred as Cobianchi was preparing to take Chloe out of her cage for the aquarium’s daily snake presentation, during which handlers discuss the natural habitat and growth cycle of pythons to school kids and other visitors.
But Chloe had been acting strangely all day, waiting by the front door of her cage. Cobianchi slid open the cage door as usual at about 1:30 PM.
In a flash Chloe struck, seizing several of Cobianchi’s fingers as a small crowd of visitors watched in horror.
Visitors were quickly cleared from the area and police were called.
In what could be the first use of a Taser by police on a snake, Chloe was Tasered. The animal released her grasp about three seconds later, said Sgt. Allen MacKenzie. The snake was not seriously injured.
For now, the aquarium’s snake show has been indefinitely canceled. Konger is considering purchasing his own handheld in case any of the animals get out of line again.
But Cobianchi has had it with snakes.
“She was my favorite animal that we had. Not anymore.” Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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