Welcome to:

thng, Calamormine, and vocalperk!

Wow, three new members in just 15 posts. UT, IotD, or pythons in general must be your best recruiting tool. Cool.

I totally looked at the pic of the snake with kid in it's belly.

The only thing that makes my fear of alligators, crocs, large (and even medium)-sized snakes and all other slimy, scale-y, reptillian, gross and toothful beasties is that I live in Ohio. All we need worry about is Gov. Taft. And that's enough.

A shock from an electric fence should not be lethal to any animal. In some states (mine was that way last time I checked) it is illegal to exceed a certain degree of shock. Most of them are rated at 110-120 volts @ 50-60 cycles. That would only scare hell out of an animal even as small as a newborn puppy or kitten. Most victims just get the hell off of it VERY QUICKLY. Most will not come back for a second round.
All of the wires are not electrified. You need a ground to complete the circuit, unless, like most people or animals, are grounded where thet stand. In the image, only the wires with the plastic insulators are "hot". Electric fence "chargers" have two connections: positive and negative. The negative is for things that touch the fence and are not naturally grounded. A bird could sit on an electric fence all day and never feel a thing as long as he didnt touch the wire connected to the negative pole of the charger or touch the ground (earth) simultaneously.
It is my guess that the reptile touched both +&- , panicked, struck the fence and expired due to exhaustion or suffocation. Imagine being hung on two wires with your jaw agape for a long time not being able to swallow or breath properly while getting a continual pulsating shock. Prolly wouldn't last too long.
Then again who knows.... the commies may run 230 volts on their fences. But if they did it would kill a farmer/ rancher as quick as an intruder.
I know snakes are essential in the balance of nature, but I like them better when they are dead or way the hell away from capnhowdy. I've been bitten before. Now I hate me some snakes. They give me the heebie jeebies. And trust me....they don't like us either. :eek:

Here's a site that gives a little more detail behind the series of photos.

Since this is in South Africa, the rules of engagment concerning electrified fences is not the same as here.

This Article might give some indication (again, I can't validate the authenticity of the information in this article. It appears to be an Ausssi based website).

from Hobbs' article.....

more evidence: shit happens. I wonder why it killed the child. No wonder there are regulations for those things in our country/state.

PLEASE READ!
In 1991, an accidental fatality occurred when a very young child's head came in contact with an electrified fence wire while the child was crawling through wet grass. The fence was correctly installed and functioning properly. The energizer was a small plug-in unit and UL approved. The fence wire was electroplastic twine--a relatively poor conductor compared to steel, copper or aluminum wire. Thus Premier strongly cautions adults to keep all small children away from all electrified fences. Children should be warned not to play in an area where electrified fences exist. Individuals of all ages should take extra care to avoid accidentally contacting any electrified fence with the head and neck--as this may allow a pulse to pass through the spinal area. From this site. Input voltage isn't an issue but I'll let tw go professor on this if you need it.

can you imagine the impact if the thread had been about python penis? we'd be overrun.

Egads - that first picture (with the teeth) totally startled me! Agggh.... I should have added snakes with big scary teeth to my list of heezbeez.

Python explodes after trying to swallow a 6 foot alligator!
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3384280

:mg:

Thats CRAZY :3_eyes: :gray: