Snake Removed From Norwegian's Phuket Bungalow

[webfact]

Snake removed from Norwegian's Phuket bungalow

Most species of Chinese rat snake are not venomous, but the

Norwegian's maid wasn't taking any chances.

PHUKET: -- Rescue workers from the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation yesterday removed a large snake from the home of an elderly Norwegian tourist.

Chalong Police received a report at 11:30am that a large snake had entered the man's bungalow on Soi Suki in Chalong Village 9.

When workers from the foundation arrived, they found the 78-year-old Norwegian standing inside the dwelling.

After asking him to leave the premises for his own safety, they found the serpent, a large Chinese rat snake, slithering about in a frenzy near a wicker table in the guest room.

The workers used a metal pole to pin down its neck, then grabbed the writhing creature by the back of the head and dropped it into a fertilizer sack.

The snake would be released in a jungle area, they said.

The Norwegian’s maid, Mai Kaew-wilai, said she discovered the snake in the house after returning from practice driving a car.

The Norwegian was trying to catch the snake with his bare hands, she said.

She told him to leave the snake alone as it was large and possibly venomous, then called in the experts.

Sayan Thammaphan, secretary of the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation, said that while most people knew the foundation was responsible for providing emergency rescue services in the south of the island, many didn’t know that it was initially established to remove snakes from the homes of residents and tourists.

The foundation removes scores of serpents annually, including cobras and pythons, he said.

Anyone who needs assistance in dealing with a snake can call the foundation (076-238364) at any time, day or night, he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-08-28

[grumpyoldman]

Great to have that phone number, thanks.

Had one of these same snakes a little bigger than this one in my patio a couple weeks back. It was more afraid of me than I of it, and jam boogied when it saw me.

[Benjie]

How is this News by any stretch of the imagination,

[PoorSucker]

Slow news day today?

[LivinginKata]

Might not be much news, but this is a useful phone number to have. I have added it to the contact list in pinned topics.

[Phuket Stan]

Might not be much news, but this is a useful phone number to have. I have added it to the contact list in pinned topics.

A very handy phone number to have

[Jimi007]

I've never had one in my house, but plenty of different species outside. I'm getting pretty good at identifying them. Of course the cobras are easy to identify.

[Crotalus]

On slow news days, snake catchers are always in demand!

Most (like us) catch snakes daily, but we are only in demand by the press when they have nothing else to report.

There was another news story today about reptiles.

I cannot vouch for the accuracy, especially as it went through a wire news service, which are notoriously liberal with the facts.

However I shall copy it unedited here (below).

All the best

Snake man Raymond Hoser

By the way, despite inferences to the contrary "Pythons" are generally regarded as harmless, because they have no venom or fangs.

Notorious Lizard King snared

• AFP
• From: AFP
• August 28, 2010 7:15PM

MALAYSIA has arrested a notorious wildlife smuggler after the man allegedly tried to smuggle about 100 live snakes to neighbouring Indonesia, police and reports say.

Anson Wong, who has earned the nickname of Lizard King for smuggling wildlife, in particular reptiles, was detained by police at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday night.

Wong, reportedly in his 50s, was nabbed after airline staff were alerted to a piece of broken luggage that was found to contain live snakes of various species.

Wong was in transit from Malaysia's northern state of Penang to Jakarta when he was detained, the Star and New Straits Times newspapers reported on Saturday, quoting unidentified sources.

"He was picked up by Malaysia Airlines security staff on Thursday night," police chief of central Selangor state, Khalid Abu Bakar, said.

"He is under police lock-up now. The case is being investigated by the Wildlife and National Parks Department," the official said, adding that he had no other details on the case.

Wong will be held until next Tuesday for further investigation, reports said.

Described by wildlife groups as one of the world's most-wanted smugglers of wild animals, Wong was reportedly sentenced to 71 months in jail in the United States in 2001 after he pleaded guilty to trafficking charges.

Despite efforts by Southeast Asian authorities to crack down on animal smuggling, the practice still persists in the region, posing a threat to several species, activists say.