CAMPBELLTON, New Brunswick, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities seized 27 illegal animals from a Canadian pet store where two boys died after being strangled by a python that escaped its cage, officials said.
An African rock python managed to get out of its enclosure Monday at the Reptile Ocean pet store in Campbellton, New Brunswick, and slithered into a ventilation system, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
The snake then fell through the ceiling of an apartment above the store and killed Noah Barthe, 4, and his brother Connor, 6. The python, which is banned in New Brunswick, was euthanized.
The Department of Natural Resources and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Friday removed 27 illegal animals, including a number of crocodiles, sulcata tortoises, iguanas and green anacondas, from the store, said Bruce Dougan, the manager of Moncton's Magnetic Hill Zoo, who assisted in the process.
The animals will be placed with accredited zoos, Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Anne Bull said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the funeral for the boys has been scheduled for Saturday at a local church, CBC News said. The brothers will share a coffin.
"The wish of the mother is that they be both buried together, in the same casket," because they were always inseparable, Deputy Mayor Ian Comeau said.
