By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK Council could ban independent animal exhibitors from council events after a snake handler who performed at this year’s Brimbank Festival was found guilty of unsafe handling practices.
The self-dubbed “snake man” Raymond Hoser from Snakebusters was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court this month for breaching his Commercial Wildlife Demonstrator Licence.
The 49-year-old Park Orchards man was fined $4000 and ordered to pay the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s court costs of $8000 after pleading guilty to nine offences committed at demonstrations between November 2008 and July 2009.
Mr Hoser’s demonstration caused a commotion at the Brimbank Festival in March when it was discovered that a baby crocodile had been stolen from the Snakebusters marquee.
The 15-month-old female croc was being used in a demonstration when it was snatched by a man who had been handling it.
Police were called but the baby croc was never found.
Mr Hoser was fined after exhibiting venomous snakes closer than three metres to the public and allowing members of the public to approach touch and handle the snakes.
He was also found guilty of failing to adequately protect the animals from being stolen at three demonstrations.
Kelly Grigsby, the council’s General Manager of Community Well-being insisted that members of the public were safe during the Brimbank Festival snake exhibit.
Ms Grigsby said exhibitors for council events were selected according to a stringent process to ensure that safety was maintained at all times.
But Ms Grigsby confirmed that the council would be reviewing the use of animal exhibits at future events, with preference given to exhibitors from institutions such as the Melbourne Zoo or RSPCA.
DSE Senior Prosector said the case sent a clear message to wildlife demonstrators that they must obey the law.
“It is a privilege to hold a wildlife licence and with this privilege comes duties and responsibilities,” he said.
