Father Teaches 3-Year-Old Son How to Handle Deadly Snakes and Crocodiles, But Not Everyone Is Impressed
Charlie Parker has been surrounded by deadly animals since the day he was born.
The three-year-old son of Greg Parker, owner and operator of Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria, Australia, even has an 8-foot boa constrictor named Pablo for a pet.
But Greg's grooming of Charlie to take over the family business has raised a few eyebrows in the wildlife community.
"Children and wild animals are not a good mix," Animal expert Jack Hanna told ABC News. "You can train a wild animal but you can never tame a wild animal."
But Greg insists he didn't push his son into the snake pit — the boy jumped in on his own.
"We didn't go out to encourage it but he just loves reptiles," he told the Daily Mail. "Like everybody he's frightened of some things... others not so much."
Whatever Charlie may be frightened of, it wouldn't likely pose a match for his fearsome army of animal friends. "Charlie just loves reptiles - his favorites are snakes and crocodiles," said Greg.
