Australian Man Receives Penalty for Introducing Pet Snake to Surfing Adventure

A man from the Gold Coast in Australia has been fined by wildlife authorities for taking his pet snake surfing. Higor Fiuza and his bredli carpet python, Shiva, gained local fame after a video of them catching waves went viral. However, this attention also caught the eyes of wildlife protection officers who claimed that Mr. Fiuza endangered Shiva and violated his permit by taking her out in public. The Department of Environment and Science in Queensland began investigating the incident after Mr. Fiuza appeared in the media, and has now imposed a fine of A$2,322 on him. According to wildlife officer Jonathan McDonald, taking native pets out in public can cause unnecessary stress and unpredictable behavior in animals. He also explained that snakes, despite being capable of swimming, generally avoid water in order to regulate their body temperature. The incident also raised concerns about public safety and the potential spread of diseases to native wildlife. Mr. Fiuza, however, has claimed that Shiva enjoys being in the water and has surfed with him numerous times without any signs of discomfort. This incident is not the first time an animal has gained fame for surfing at Rainbow Bay, as a duck named Duck has also been known to ride the waves and even steal them from professional surfer Steph Gilmore.