The African rock python that killed two boys in Campbellton, N.B., on Monday wasn't the only banned species found at the Reptile Ocean pet store, officials say.
Twenty-seven illegal animals, including some endangered ones, have been removed from the three-storey building, including the top-floor residence, said Bry Loyst from Peterborough's Indian River Reptile Zoo, who is assisting the provincial Department of Natural Resources and the RCMP.
But four large American alligators will have to be euthanized on site because no zoos are able to accommodate them, officials said.
Kyle O'Grady, of Indian River Reptile Zoo, with some of the animals being removed from Reptile Ocean in Campbellton. (Brigitte Noel/CBC) Two small crocodiles, called dwarf caimans, were removed.
Some of the other animals include: a variety of crocodile species, sulcata tortoises, iguanas and green anacondas, said Bruce Dougan, the manager of Moncton's Magnetic Hill Zoo, who is also assisting.
Hundreds of animals remain in the store, Loyst told CBC News.
Crews started to remove some of the reptiles on Thursday night and the work continued on Friday with water being drained from the pond inside the building.
Deputy Mayor Ian Comeau said the team may need some city equipment, such as a loader and backhoe, to get some of the species out.
One of the crocodiles, for example, is about three metres long and weighs about 135 kilograms.
Will share coffin
Noah Barthe, left, and Connor Barthe pose in this undated photo posted on the Facebook page of Mandy Trecartin. (Facebook/Canadian Press) Preliminary autopsy results on Noah Barthe, 4, and his brother Connor, 6, who were killed after the python escaped its enclosure, show they died from asphyxiation, RCMP said Wednesday.
A funeral is scheduled for Saturday at a nearby church with 1,200 seats. "The wish of the mother is that they be both buried together, in the same casket," because they were always inseparable, said the deputy mayor.
It's believed the python escaped through the top of a glass enclosure and into a ventilation system. The snake, which was 4.3 metres long and weighed about 45 kilograms, fell through the ceiling and into the living room of an apartment above the reptile store, where the two boys were sleeping.
They were there for a sleepover with the son of the shop owner, Jean-Claude Savoie.
Better monitoring needed
There were at least eight other illegal animals in the Reptile Ocean building, officials say. (CBC) The tragedy has a national animal protection watchdog questioning how such a popular and visible reptile establishment managed to remain open with illegal animals and without the proper permits.
Although Reptile Ocean was a licensed zoo at one point, it later became a store, which had some illegal animals, including the African rock python that apparently strangled two boys on Monday after escaping an enclosure.
"I think … it comes down to the fact that we need well-placed, powerful political champions that decide yes, health care is important, and yes, jobs are important, but this is also an issue that's important, because it affects people and animals, which people value," said Rob Laidlaw, of Zoo Check.
CBC News has repeatedly asked for an interview with New Brunswick's Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup this week, but department staff have said the minister will not comment because of the RCMP investigation.
A shrine for Noah and Connor Barthe continued to grow outside Reptile World all week. (Brigitte Noel/CBC) Department officials have said Reptile Ocean did not have a permit to have the African rock python, which is a banned snake in the province.
The department also had no knowledge of the existence of the python prior to this week's tragedy, officials said.
"According to our records, we have never had any involvement with this snake or a crocodile," spokeswoman Anne Bull said in a statement earlier this week.
It was Environment Canada officials who helped the Moncton SPCA move the python to Campbellton after it was discovered on the shelter's doorstep in 2002.
Officers from the Department of Natural Resources, the RCMP and representatives from the Magnetic Hill Zoo were in an out of the shop all day on Thursday.
The building remains cordoned off with yellow police caution tape.
A shrine of teddy bears and other toys outside the store was removed on Thursday in anticipation of rain. The items will be donated to charity.
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