Floods Keep Bangkok's Snake Hunter Busy

[webfact]

Floods keep Bangkok's snake hunter busy

by Rachel O'Brien

File photo: Python - Souce: Wikimedia

BANGKOK, November 17, 2011 (AFP) - Bangkok's most famous snake hunter piles the huge writhing python into a sack and bundles it into the boot of a taxi, before rushing across the flood-hit city to deal with another serpentine intruder.

Sompop Sridaranop has been busier than ever since Thailand's devastating floods reached the capital and sent snakes -- as well as people -- fleeing their usual habitat to seek out drier ground.

"The snakes live in drain pipes and in empty grassy areas, and when these are flooded, they travel through the pipes to houses to find new places to stay," the 57-year-old told AFP.

As a result, snakes are popping up where they are not welcome and Sompop is being bombarded with panicked calls from frightened residents.

The python -- three metres (10 feet) long -- was caught by workers at a factory in Nonthaburi province just north of the capital, much to the relief of one frightened employee.

"I was very scared. I didn't dare to watch while they were catching the snake," Pattaya Tasua told AFP as Sompop whisked the creature away.

When his "Jingle Bells" mobile ringtone alerts him to another roaming reptile, Sompop swings into action, throwing on his "Snake Hunter" jacket and racing to the rescue.

It's a voluntary role he has done for more than 20 years alongside his paid job as a messenger for the Thai marine department. He says he was inspired as a young man by a speech by the queen urging Thais to help one another.

A stint volunteering with local police led to his calling as a snake catcher -- along with other adventurous sidelines including destroying wasps' nests.

The various bite scars on his arms testify to his long service. "My wife has seen my snake bites so often, it's normal for her. She worries but she understands," he said.

The Thai floods have left more than 560 people dead and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods, sparking fears of drowning, disease, electrocution and even marauding crocodiles on the loose from flooded farms.

Pythons like the one at the factory are not venomous, but other poisonous species, particularly cobras, have been cropping up more frequently since the floods began -- usually at night and in outlying areas of the city, according to Sompop.

And it's not just snakes that are causing a stir.

The snake hunter has been called out to catch water monitors, fearsome-looking lizards that are a common sight near the lakes and canals of Bangkok but have also started to creep a little too close to home for some.

He recently nabbed a monitor that measured two metres from nose to tail in a family's front yard in western Bangkok.

After a brief struggle, this too was bundled into a bag and dropped by Sompop into the swollen Chao Phraya river.

"They are not really dangerous, but if you don't know how to catch them properly then they can bite and their saliva is dirty," he said, pointing out that the lizards were fond of eating pets.

Rumours have circulated on social networking websites that 15 deadly African green mambas have escaped from a flooded house in Nonthaburi.

The snakes' escape has not been confirmed, but a public health official said 50 doses of serum have arrived in Thailand from South Africa to treat possible mamba bites.

And while most people would run a mile from the deadly reptiles, Sompop can't wait to get his hands on one.

"I would love to catch one and see how exciting it would be," he said.

Sompop takes most of his captives to his own home and asks friends travelling outside Bangkok to release them into the wild, or he awaits collection by government wildlife officials.

A few of his finds end up at the Thai Red Cross Society snake farm, where staff make serums to treat the bites of Thailand's venomous species -- numbering 61 out of more than 190 snake varieties in the kingdom.

Lawan Chanhome, a senior veterinarian at the farm in Bangkok, warned the public to be extra vigilant during the floods.

"Mainly we advise people not to go wandering in the flood waters at night unless it is essential," she said.

A global zoo organisation said it had sent two vets from Singapore to Bangkok this week to help capture snakes and other reptiles, bringing with them "urgently needed" medical supplies and hunting equipment such as hooks and nets.

But in spite of the threats they pose, Sompop believes Thailand's snakes get a bad press, given that they carry out a vital task in keeping down the rat population.

"Snakes existed before people. They have always been in Thailand. Without them in the area we would be suffering," he said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-17

[jamora]

Does anyone know how to catch snakes in the garden, without killing them? Have seen a couple of rat snakes (I assume) in my garden the last few days, and as I have two small dogs, I would like to get rid of the snakes. I have made two traps out of PVC drain pipe, but so far no luck. I don't want to kill them, as I used to have pet snakes, so I feel the same way about killing them as most would feel about killing a soi dog.

If anyone have any ideas about how to catch them, please share. And I don't mind using my hands, but so far they have been too fast, and then they go back in the drain system in my Moo Baan.

[Kalbo]

Sneak up and grab them. Just make sure first that they are indeed rat snakes

[chaoyang]

You can sure tell the difference in the quality of stories from APF compared to the Nation. I think the above piece is nicely done.

[impulse]

Long pole with a shoelace tied to the end to act as a noose. It's better if it has a ring at the end so you can tie the shoelace on, run it through the ring leaving a loop that can be tightened by pulling on your end of the shoelace.

If you're sure they're non-poisonous, a broom or mop handle could work. The metal ones usually come with a ring on the end to hang them on a hook.

If you're not sure about the venomous thing, I'd suggest a 10 footer and a couple of shoelaces tied together.

Slide the loop over the snake, pull the shoelace tight, then deposit the snake into a very deep bucket or trashcan with a cover.

Most shoelaces are thick enough to get a good hold of the snake without cutting into the skin like a thin string would.

[rayongtoffee]

Chaoyang,indeed a well written article,and that guy deserves a medal the size of a frying pan.

[ginjag]

Sneak up and grab them. Just make sure first that they are indeed rat snakes

Just do not gamble on any snakes is my advice. There are snakes that mimic snakes, yes there are at least 2 species that are completely harmless but are identical to a cobra. The same as a non trained person thinking the banded krait is a fake as there are these banded ones that are harmless, Get a local Thai to get them for you, or your village head man. contact the police and they MAY get someone to come along. If I have a snake within the walls of my house my dogs tell me -then I get them away first, then deal with the intruder. If I am 100 per cent sure it is non venomous I use a stick that I got from a local tree-that had a curved end, and I put them over the wall.

Remember the story of the man that found the snake at the bottom of the tree, he got it and said black orange black orange black orange and then realised it was a tiger.

Edited November 17, 2011 by ginjag

[Skorz]

Does anyone know how to catch snakes in the garden, without killing them? Have seen a couple of rat snakes (I assume) in my garden the last few days, and as I have two small dogs, I would like to get rid of the snakes. I have made two traps out of PVC drain pipe, but so far no luck. I don't want to kill them, as I used to have pet snakes, so I feel the same way about killing them as most would feel about killing a soi dog.

If anyone have any ideas about how to catch them, please share. And I don't mind using my hands, but so far they have been too fast, and then they go back in the drain system in my Moo Baan.

I had those green tree snakes in my garden in Surat. They can bite and it hurts like hell. Our gardener used a meter length of yellow PVC tubing (the sort that serves as electrical conduit) with a doubled up length of washing line fed through and protruding in a noose at one end. He would just loop the head of the snake and gently pull the loop tight and lift the reptile out of the bush.

Of course then the snake would be bludgeoned to death with a shovel within seconds.

TIT.

[elgato]

Does anyone know how to catch snakes in the garden, without killing them? Have seen a couple of rat snakes (I assume) in my garden the last few days, and as I have two small dogs, I would like to get rid of the snakes. I have made two traps out of PVC drain pipe, but so far no luck. I don't want to kill them, as I used to have pet snakes, so I feel the same way about killing them as most would feel about killing a soi dog.

If anyone have any ideas about how to catch them, please share. And I don't mind using my hands, but so far they have been too fast, and then they go back in the drain system in my Moo Baan.

Call Sompop