Animal Influencer Tarzan Accused of Animal Abuse After Wrestling Python in Viral Video

American wildlife influencer Mike Holston, known online as 'The Real Tarzann,' has faced animal-abuse accusations on social media after footage showed him wrestling a large constrictor snake that coiled around his body.

In the video, Holston struggles to control the reptile and says that, despite holding a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the encounter requires a 'black belt in the jungle.' He later describes it as the closest he has come in a long time to being fully wrapped up by a snake.

The footage circulated online on 13 October 2026, prompting criticism, jokes and concerns about the risks to both Holston and the animal. Some users on X called the encounter animal abuse, although no formal charge or official finding relating to this incident has been identified in the sources reviewed.

Viewers Accuse Influencer of Animal Abuse

One X user, posting as Pacific Noble, wrote: 'This shit is disgusting and animal abuse.' Another, using the account wybie, accused Holston of 'harming them for zero reason besides posting it on the internet.'

Dark Money also criticised the encounter, writing: 'We get it, you're seeking validation. Leave the f*cking snake alone.'

Other users questioned the risks of wrestling such a large reptile, while some joked about Holston's comparison between Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a 'black belt in the jungle.'

The comments demonstrate that some viewers explicitly characterised the encounter as animal abuse. However, these are individual opinions and do not establish whether the snake was injured or distressed.

What the Python Footage Shows

Holston described the encounter as his toughest battle with a snake yet. In the accompanying caption, he identified the animal as a 19-foot reticulated python weighing slightly more than 200 pounds. Those measurements have not been independently verified.

A report published by Azteca Jalisco on 13 October also described the encounter and repeated claims about the snake's size. The available footage does not establish whether trained handlers were present, what safety precautions were taken or whether the animal was examined afterwards.

Large constrictors can pose serious risks during close-contact encounters. Establishing whether this particular snake suffered harm would require evidence specific to the incident, such as a veterinary assessment or a statement from someone who examined the animal.

Previous Wildlife Controversies

Holston has faced scrutiny over separate wildlife encounters. In September 2025, ABC News reported that Queensland authorities were investigating footage that appeared to show him chasing and handling a freshwater crocodile in northern Australia. Officials said interfering with crocodiles was an offence and described the activity as extremely dangerous.

ABC News later reported calls from PETA and a crocodile expert for action over the crocodile videos. Those criticisms concerned the Australian incidents, not the current python footage.

In 2024, PETA also urged the US Department of Agriculture to act over Holston's wildlife facility, The Wyld Jungle, alleging that it exhibited exotic animals without a federal licence. The organisation subsequently reported that Riverside County had issued the facility a cease-and-desist order.

These earlier disputes provide context for the scrutiny of Holston's wildlife content, but they do not establish that the python was mistreated in the latest video. The current accusations remain social media criticism, with the animal's condition and the circumstances of the encounter unconfirmed.