A 17-foot-long python having tea parties with a 7-year-old could be quite shocking to those unfamiliar with snakes. Since she was two years old, Emi, from Surrey, England, has played with her pet snake Cher.
At the time her Lavender Motley Sunfire Tiger reticulated python was tiny and Emi could carry her around her neck. The size of Cher has now grown to the point that Emi cannot even lift her.
There has been one recorded attack on humans by a reticulated python, with the longest ever recorded on humans being 28 feet long. Reticulated pythons are native to Asia and excellent swimmers.
In addition to teaching Emi to respect Cher and not to do anything that might stress her giant pet, her dad Ed Taoka said a lot of time has been spent getting the two to know each other.
It was my responsibility as a parent to ensure Cher was friendly and sociable when held,” he said.
Emi clearly loves her pet python Cher, which they spend a great deal of time together.
Despite Cher’s relationship with his daughter, Ed doesn’t worry about her.
She cannot feed her until she is 16 and is never left unsupervised with her.
Having the opportunity to see these amazing creatures was a blessing for his daughter.
“These animals are never seen in their true state when they’re not stressed out, and their true natures are never revealed.
It is always a bad negative perception whenever a large constrictor is displayed with anything.
Rather than snakes biting us, cats scratched us and bitten us.
Emi is very lucky to have a snake like Cher.”
