Local snake handlers say it’s unlikely the snake will bite a human, though pets are at risk.
By Raif Karerat
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The owner of a king cobra that escaped last week near Orlando, Fla. has been cited for not immediately reporting the venomous snake got loose.
Mike Kennedy reported the 8-foot snake missing nearly 24 hours after discovering it was gone, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The FWC announced Monday that Kennedy faces a misdemeanor charge, but isn’t required to appear in court. He has 30 days to pay a fine of $366, or request a hearing, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Court records show an arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 7.
Kennedy told officers he came home on Sept. 1 from a two-day trip and found the snake had escaped from its cage. He then spent about 24 hours searching for the missing cobra before finally reporting it to the authorities, court documents state.
He was cited in 2001 for failing to provide adequate housing after another king cobra escaped from a house in the College Park area of Orlando; it was eventually shot by a homeowner who found it in his garage.
The venomous snake hasn’t been seen since it escaped captivity, and officials are scaling back their search efforts, but leaving the traps set. Kennedy has helped with the search, according to FWC.
Local snake handlers say it’s unlikely the missing king cobra will bite a human, though pets are at risk, according to The Sentinel.
Kennedy, a mild celebrity, is best-known for his starring role on the Discovery Channel’s “Airplane Repo,” but also has experience working with exotic animals.
Records indicate he owns Dragon Ranch, a non-profit animal sanctuary, that’s run out of his home, reported the Orlando Sentinel. The ranch’s website says Kennedy studied zoology at the University of Central Florida and also takes care of a cougar, leopard, and crocodiles, among other exotic fauna.