Anthony Cavallaro

Keeping dangerous reptiles

Buffalo, NY

May 19, 2000

Cavallaro, kept a menagerie of dangerous reptiles as pets, including a 4 year old 8 foot long alligator named Albert, that had the run of the house, and viper, a cobra a rattle snake.

The West African gaboon viper, a native of Central and Southern Africa bit Cavallaro. When the ambulance crew arrived at Cavallaro's home and saw the animals they called the police.

Cavallaro's prognosis is not good. The hospital obtained antivenin from the Bronx Zoo in New York City but they are not sure if it arrived in time to counteract the neurotoxic effects of the viper's bite.

Cavallaro had permits for all of the animals, which remain in the house for now because the Buffalo Zoo does not have any antivenin, if needed.

Reference:

Planet Ark