# Raiders Of The Lost Ark - what did they do with snakes after they were done filming? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302 "2014-04-04T00:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/1 "2014-04-04T00:31:48Z")
Lot’s of trivia sites have this nugget: > **[20 Adventurous Facts About Raiders of the Lost Ark](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/55963/20-adventurous-facts-about-raiders-lost-ark)** > > Thirty-five years after Indiana Jones made his big-screen debut, Disney recently announced that both Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford have officially signed up for a fifth Indiana Jones film. > [@](#): > > Spielberg then estimated they would need at least 7000 more snakes to make it believably scary, so he had the producers raid all the pet shops in London (where they were shooting the film at Elstree Studios) and elsewhere around Europe to get enough of the slithering reptiles. So were the snakes carefully marked to return to the stores? Or were they just released somewhere or killed? Or eaten in the sequel? Or what? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/2 "2014-04-04T01:00:42Z")
They used them in the [sequel](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/3 "2014-04-04T04:14:55Z")
Apparently, if Paul Freeman is to be believed, some of them (or their descendants) are [still there](http://www.blastr.com/2011/08/descendants_of_raiders_of.php). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/4 "2014-04-04T06:18:53Z")
They would likely have returned them to stores or zoos or whatever is standard practice for movie animal wrangling. A big movie in this modern enlightened age would be reasonably careful about that kind of thing, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/5 "2014-04-04T09:31:25Z")
Two words… “[Snake Surprise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDBybXy1vY4)” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/6 "2014-04-04T09:49:15Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > They would likely have returned them to stores or zoos or whatever is standard practice for movie animal wrangling. A big movie in this modern enlightened age would be reasonably careful about that kind of thing, I hope. Yeah but,they are snakes!!! Fuck em. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/7 "2014-04-04T15:22:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Yeah but,they are snakes!!! Fuck em. That’s a lot of snakes. Did they have _time_ for that? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/8 "2014-04-04T15:24:03Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > That’s a lot of snakes. Did they have _time_ for that? 😃 I think he’s getting it confused with “Rapers of the Lost Asp” ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/9 "2014-04-04T15:47:07Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > I think he’s getting it confused with “Rapers of the Lost Asp” Yeah, but in his defense, they were some mighty fine pieces of asp. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/10 "2014-04-05T02:33:48Z")
Perhaps they sent them to Ireland? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/11 "2014-04-05T12:40:46Z")
“No snakes were harmed in the making of this motion picture.” (I assume) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/12 "2014-04-05T13:08:56Z")
They put them on a plane, of course… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/13 "2014-04-05T14:54:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > They put them on a plane, of course… Were they paid scale? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/14 "2014-04-06T02:19:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > They put them on a plane, of course… But by that point, the snakes had major attitude. They were wearing Ray-Bans, demanding to fly first class, and telling everyone, “Yeah, baby, I just starred in a movie directed by Steven Fucking Spilberg. You bet I demanded points.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/15 "2014-04-06T03:29:02Z")
The actors outside looked from snake to agent, and from agent to snake, and from snake to agent again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/16 "2014-04-06T03:44:52Z")
“Agents. Very dangerous. You go first.” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/17 "2014-04-14T17:24:02Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Were they paid scale? Fangs. Fangs a lot. Fang you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/18 "2014-04-15T03:43:57Z")
What did they do with snakes after they were done filming? Well, it’s a long story. But one that’s measured in inches since snakes don’t have any feet. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/19 "2014-04-15T13:07:11Z")
Long ago snakes were defeated. ---
**Author:** ![Detroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@Detroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Detroit)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302/20 "2014-04-16T17:40:34Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Lot’s of trivia sites have this nugget: > [20 Adventurous Facts About Raiders of the Lost Ark](http://mentalfloss.com/article/55963/21-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-raiders-lost-ark) > > So were the snakes carefully marked to return to the stores? Or were they just released somewhere or killed? Or eaten in the sequel? Or what? That was a great article. Thanks. They probably sold some and get rid of the rest in a way PETA would probably object to. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-did-they-do-with-snakes-after-they-were-done-filming/685302.md?page=2)