I live at a Orphanage about an our and a half outside of Chiang Mai in a pretty rural area. A couple of our kids found a long yellow and black striped snake and, assuming it was dangerous, killed it to protect the younger children and girls at the Home. They proudly came to us, knowing the Farong like to take pictures of everything and posed for a picture with their prize. A staff member told us that it was a venomous snake but there are no English books out here in the boonies. I was hoping some wise snake person might know what it was and if it was dangerous, or just a copy-cat snack for future reference. My concern, of course, is that there is more than just one out there ...

http://www.siam-info.de/english/snakes_bungarus.html

Looks like the first one on this page: .Bungarus fasciatus (Banded Krait)

Edited December 23, 200817 yr by Carib

The word "Krait" scares me. Real bad news. Russels Viper is another bad boy.

seems a bit of a trollish or jokey post.....

But, yes.. its a banded krait & if u see any more, don't touch em 'cos if they bite you, you may well die...

I had seen a couple picture of a Krait, but the ones I saw were pointed on top, that is why I was wondering if it was a copycat or something. Bummed to hear it is dangerous - there are about 70 kids here, lots of grass and now I'm a little more nervous then I was before. And Goshawk, unfortunately its not a joke. These little boys really killed it. I have a couple more pictures I'll add for you.

I would bet that it is a Banded Krait and very dangerous if it bite someone. Fortunately they are not aggressive.

I noticed two of these drowned near my place the other day, they were caught in fishing line and there was a third one feeding off the dead ones. They are not aggressive.

Fortunately they are not aggressive.

They are not aggressive.

during the day, sure.. even still, risk is there..

at night, a different matter. you don't want to be anywhere near one..

Fortunately they are not aggressive.

They are not aggressive.

during the day, sure.. even still, risk is there..

at night, a different matter. you don't want to be anywhere near one..

It was definitely a banded krait. Very deadly. They feed primarily on other snakes. As the King Cobra.

But, no reported bites during daytime and they are actually very calm.

One of my cats found and killed a baby one just this morning.