King Cobra gets a home

PENANG: The 5.4m-long king cobra found in a centre for juvenile delinquents in Paya Terubong, believed to be the longest of its kind caught in the country, will be sent to the Malacca Zoo.

State National Parks and Wildlife Department director Hasnan Yusop said the snake was bound to be a top attraction at the zoo.

He said the king cobra was being temporarily kept at a secret location as the authorities did not want the area to be swarmed by people.

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: Mohd Shaiful showing off his skills in cobra handling in Penang Monday.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel had to summon “snake king” Mohd Shaiful Abdul Aziz, 21, to subdue the king cobra after they spent more than an hour trying to catch it.

Mohd Shaiful managed to catch it in 10 minutes.

The snake was found among bushes at the centre on Saturday night.

“It is not unusual to find king cobras in this area. This place offers a suitable habitat for the snake because of the swamp nearby – complete with wet and cold conditions,” Hasnan said.

He also said it was not difficult to handle the 15kg snake because it had swallowed a monitor lizard.

Hasnan said the king cobra, from the Ophiophagus hannah family, could be found in many parts of the world.

“However, its gender has yet to be ascertained,” he added.

Hasnan also commended Mohd Shaiful and his brother Mohd Shamsul, 19, for capturing the snake unharmed.

“Some people take the easy way out by killing the snake. The king cobra is a protected species,” he said.

Hasnan said it was an offence under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 to kill or own the reptile without a permit.

An offender can be fined RM3,000 or jailed three years, or both.

source: The Star Online
date: November 22, 2005
by: Nik Khusairi Ibrahim