Nevertheless, thrill-seekers are queueing up to lie on the ground while four giant Burmese pythons – weighing a combined 250kg – slither around on top of them.
The unusual treatment is being offered at Cebu City Zoo in the Philippines and careful steps are taken to make sure the snakes – that measure up to five metres long – don’t start EATING the clients.
Workers at the zoo feed the snakes 10 or more chickens before they are let loose on the tourists so that any hunger pangs are kept at bay.
The free treatment is proving something of a hit for adrenaline junkie visitors – who are given strict instructions before laying down for the ssspa treatment.
Ian Maclean, from Hawaii, said: “I’ve been massaged twice and lived to tell the tale.
“I had to lie on my back on a bamboo daybed in the open air. I was briefed on what to do and what not to do during the massage.
“These instructions are crucial, as you can imagine. They tell you not to blow air on the snake, because this is like being pinched on the bum, apparently.
“You can’t shout for help as the snake can feel your vibrations and thinks you’re prey or a predator, depending on the environment.”
The four Burmese Pythons – named Michelle, Walter, EJ and Daniel – move slowly across human limbs for 10 to 15 minutes under the watchful eye of zoo keepers.
It’s thought that the slithering motion is therapeutic and calming, as well as the flickering of the tongue on skin mimicking a tickling sensation.
Zoo manager Giovanni Romarate, who owns Michelle and Walter, is confident that the snake massage is safe.
He said: “Snakes do not attack as long as they are not harmed. We also made sure that we use pythons because they are not venomous.
