Surfer Rides With Pet Python: Fined by Wildlife Officers (image:youtube.com)

As an adventurous ride in the waves is not enough, Australian Gold Coast man Higor Fiuza accompanied his pet python, Shiva, for the ride, inviting controversy. 

He was surfing with a python wrapped around his neck, leaving the wildlife officers concerned and issuing a probe. “Our investigation found the man had a permit to keep native animals, but he was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice for breaching Section 88a of the Nature Conservation Act,” senior wildlife officer Jonathan McDonald said.

Even though keeping a pet python is within the bounds of the law, authorities question the action of taking it into the sea. The surfer lacked even the required permit to relocate the snake from the registered address, not to mention taking it to the azure waves. 

The officers issued a fine of A$2,322 to the owner as it required a wave of permits before accompanying them to sea. “To take an animal out in public or display, it requires a separate permit,” Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science said in an official statement. 

“Taking native pets out in public can cause the animals unnecessary stress, and they can behave in an unpredictable way when they are removed from their enclosures,” McDonald added. He also added that the incident has already raised alarms about taking the python to the sea and posing a threat to native wildlife. 

Reptiles generally avoid water, and snakes, especially, are cold-blooded animals. Python would have felt the water was exceptionally cold;  “the only snakes that should be in the ocean are sea snakes,” he added.

Mr. Fiuza told local media previously that Shiva loves the water, and she has surfed with him at least 10 times. “I always took her to the beach, and she loved to be in the water swimming, so one day I decided to take her out for a surf and she loved it,” he said to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.