Close: An autopsy is being carried out on the bodies of Connor and Noah to determine the exact cause of death
THE SNAKE KNOWN TO DEVOUR WHOLE ANTELOPES IN THE WILD
The brothers are believed to have been killed by an African Rock Python, Africa's largest snake. The reptile can grow as long as 20ft and as heavy as 200lbs.
In the wild, it is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and in 2009, six of the snakes were found in the Florida Everglades.
It constricts its prey to death and has been known to devour whole antelopes or crocodiles. After gripping the prey, the snake coils around it and tightens its coils every time the prey exhales; death is often caused by cardiac arrest rather than by asphysxiation. As well as larger animals, it feeds on rodents, lizards, monkeys and bats.
The snake, which has brown, olive chestnut and yellow markings, is recognizable by its thick body which is covered with colored blotches that create stripes. It has a distinctive triangular pattern along the top of its head and beneath its eyes.
In the wild, it is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and in 2009, six of the snakes were found in the Florida Everglades.
It constricts its prey to death and has been known to devour whole antelopes or crocodiles. After gripping the prey, the snake coils around it and tightens its coils every time the prey exhales; death is often caused by cardiac arrest rather than by asphysxiation. As well as larger animals, it feeds on rodents, lizards, monkeys and bats.
The snake, which has brown, olive chestnut and yellow markings, is recognizable by its thick body which is covered with colored blotches that create stripes. It has a distinctive triangular pattern along the top of its head and beneath its eyes.
In further bad news for Mr Savoie, a
petition has been launched to shut down the shop over the way its
animals were being treated. So far the Shut Down Reptile Ocean petition
has only 185 signatures.
The snake is not usually handled by
anyone in the store and Mr Savoie said he does not know how it escaped
its cage in the pet shop.
'How he got loose, I don’t know,' a former employee, Tim Thomas, told the National Post.
'Because
ever since Jean-Claude got full custody of his child, every cage had
two locks on it, and one of them was a master lock and the keys to that
were hung up in the laundry room.'
He added: 'Jean-Claude loved them kids and he would have never, ever put them in danger at all.'
Reptile Ocean is home to a veritable
menagerie of exotic animals, including crocodiles, tarantulas, tortoises
and numerous snakes.
Neighbor Diane Fournier confirmed to MailOnline that it was Connor and Noah who had been killed.
She
described how she often saw the brothers happily playing together
outside. They were fascinated by animals, she said, and often came over
to pet her dog.
Alike: The boys, both pictured, were staying at a sleepover with Savoie's son when they were killed
'The kids were always playing and laughing. They were really full of joy and lots of energy,' she said.
Facebook photos show both of the boys handling a small corn snake - called Mr Slithers - owned by their mother, a teleservices agent at Service New Brunswick, a local government agency.
Ms Fournier told MailOnline that Mr Savoie operated Reptile Ocean as both a pet shop and as a zoo. He kept numerous snakes and lizards and small crocodiles to sell, but he hosted tour groups.
'He always had kids going in there to visit like school kids and groups,' she said.
Ms Fournier said she she herself has touched the snake that is believed to have killed the boys. He often showed it off and kept it in a locked cage, she said.
The horrifying deaths of the two children shocked residents of the small city of 7,400 in northern New Brunswick.
Missed: The young boys were killed as they slept on the floor in the apartment above the pet store
Adorable: The Barth brothers pose with each other and their mother, Mandy
Innocence: Mr Savoie thought the boys were still sleeping when he went to check on them on Monday
Lisa Janes, a co-owner and curator of Little Ray's Reptile Zoo, a private zoo and education program in Ontario, said that snakes do not usually regard humans as food.
'They attack because they're feeling scared or threatened, or because they smell food,' she told CBC, adding: 'We were absolutely shocked and saddened. Our condolences go out to the family.'
As a criminal investigation is launched, some experts said that it was very surprising that the snake attacked.
'It’s strange, I’m just trying to piece it together,' Lee Parker, the facilities manager at Ontario reptile zoo Reptilia, told CBC. 'They don't go on killing sprees... it doesn't make sense to me.'
Attacks by African rock pythons are rare, but not unheard of.
The snake in question was an African Rock Python, said to be 14 to 16 feet long. Even the owner admitted it was 'vicious'
Big snake: This anaconda is believed to be one of the very large snakes Jean-Claude Savoie kept at his Reptile Ocean pet shop
Collection: Savoie has a variety of animals at the store, including crocodiles, tortoises and tarantulas
The
last was in 2002, when a 10-year-old boy was killed and swallowed in
Durban, South Africa. Three years prior, a three-year-old boy was killed
by another rock python after escaping its cage in Centralia, Illinois.Police said an autopsy on Tuesday will confirm the exact cause of death, though officials believe the boys were strangled by the snake.
Mr Savoie said he captured the snake and turned it over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is believed the animal has now been killed.
An RCMP spokeswoman said the major crimes unit is investigating the case and will determine whether any criminal charges should be filed against the owner. So far none have been brought.
In a Facebook message, staff at Reptile Ocean wrote: 'Deepest sympathies goes out to the family of the children. A terrible accident without a meaning.'
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