I saw a different picture of the snake in another news story. Ah,
here it is. In the picture is one of the bravest men I think I shall ever see. He appears to be a keeper or handler and he is standing, looking quite relaxed, next to, actually touching the creature. Now I've had a ball python and have been amazed at the size of rats my little four foot pet took down without a sweat (if he could sweat of course) Its speed and strength were similarily suprising for its size. Many of those who have had reptiles can tell you that you never
really know what the animal will do, they aren't remotely as predictable as more conventional pets, ie. the teacher I gave mine to was unexpectedly bitten by my "tame" pet last week having done nothing but picking up the snake as he had dozens of times before. If the snake in this picture experienced a similar moment of ill will, all the assistance in the world would not have proved sufficient to save that keepers life.