By Mustapha Lawal
Claim
A lecturer commands students to hold vicious snakes for extra marks.
Photo Credit: A screenshot of the claim.
Verdict
Misleading! The snake in the video is identified as a Ball Python, a non-venomous species known for its relatively docile nature and lack of predatory behaviour towards humans.
Full Text
Instablog9ja, a popular social media page, posted a video with the caption: “lecturer commands students to hold vicious snakes for extra marks”.
The caption suggests that the lecturer is endangering the lives of students in the video in exchange for marks. As a result, there have been numerous comments and kickbacks in the comments section of the post about the breed of snake in the video.
As of press time, the post has amassed over 191,200 views and a plethora of reposts on X, a microblogging platform.
FactCheckAfrica decided to factcheck the claim in a bid to show the evident irregularity in the post.
Verification
By leveraging Google’s advanced reverse image search capability, FactCheckAfrica traced the origins of keyframes extracted from the video. Findings revealed that the snake featured in the video to be identified as a Ball Python, a non-venomous species known for its relatively docile nature and lack of predatory behaviour towards humans.
Also, we found a reaction by the Association of Veterinary Medical Students, University of Ilorin Chapter, whose members originally posted the video. The association clarified the video showed a ball python named Reggy in the University of Ilorin. Reggy is a non-venomous and generally friendly snake, FactCheckAfrica learnt.
According to a statement released by the student body, students in the video are veterinary students engaging in a crucial aspect of their training: snake handling.
The association explained further that the skill is not merely an academic exercise for extra marks but it is essential for the safety of both veterinarians and the snakes themselves. The students learn proper techniques for handling snakes — a valuable knowledge to help those specializing in wildlife veterinary medicine.
The Ball Python, also known by its scientific name Python regius, is a species of python native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is recognized as one of the most popular pet snakes due to its manageable size, striking patterns, and generally calm temperament.
As against the claim, Ball Pythons typically feed on small mammals such as rodents and birds. Their diet does not include humans, and there have been no documented cases of Ball Pythons attacking people.
Conclusion
Misleading! Findings show that the snake in the video is identified as Ball Python, a non-venomous species known for its relatively docile nature and lack of predatory behaviour towards humans.
