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Snake Handling

Interviewed by Simon Ramsden in Thailand

How it feels to be a snake handler

Cobra, alias Nong, 27, is a snake handler on Koh Samui island in Thailand. He runs snake shows at bars and hotels on request.

Simon: When, how and why did you get into snake handling?

Cobra: When I was 18 I spent two months at a Buddhist monastery. I made a mistake in my meditation and deliberately tried to look into my most recent past life. This is not recommended for novices, as the point at which you will see into your past life is usually the ‘death door’ (ie the moment you left the prior life) which can be traumatic for those psychologically unready to face the trauma of seeing themselves die.

When I looked into my prior life, it was as though I were looking up an umbilical cord. My consciousness rushed up the inside of the cord and, at the end, it ‘saw’ a small ship sailing on water. Well, maybe it’s a coincidence that I’ve always loved the sea and everything to do with boats and ships, or maybe I was a sailor in my past life, which would explain why I ‘saw’ a ship.

A strange thing happened next. Two huge, vividly coloured and totally terrifying snakes appeared from nowhere and slithered at lightning speed down the inside of the umbilical cord in my consciousness. They were so clear and vividly three-dimensional that they did not look like figments of my imagination, they looked completely real. I was frightened and lost my connection with my past life. When I discussed this incident with my teacher at the monastery later, he gently admonished me for looking into my past life, then explained that the snakes were a defence mechanism which had been generated by my subconscious’ in order to prevent me from seeing things which I was not psychologically ready to see.

My teacher also commented that I was obviously terrified of snakes and that I must confront and defeat all fears if I were to attain contentment. So, after leaving the monastery, I decided to confront my fears and work with snakes.

Simon: What's the scariest thing that has happened to you on the job?

Cobra: Four years ago a five-metre python, a really powerful animal, decided to try and bite my head off during a private show at the Santiburi Resort. I had been distracted by the opulence of the suite on the patio of which we were performing, so had not been concentrating properly. The snake was very strong. It opened its jaws wide and clamped them around the top of my skull, to painful and terrifying effect. My two assistants took what seemed like ages to drag it off me. They had to really battle the snake, which was trying to get my whole head into its mouth. The three of us rolled around for some time, with the snake thrashing around and a woman in the audience screaming.

Simon: What's the secret of effective snake handling?

Cobra: Discipline: being very, very careful. Very good eyesight is essential too, so you can detect the snake’s smallest movements.

Simon: Is there any snake you would not handle?

Cobra: I wouldn’t handle a Malaysian snake called ‘ular cincin’ in Malay (gold-ringed cat snake or mangrove snake), which looks as though it has two heads, one on each end. It has a lightning-fast strike and is very bad-tempered. I have a wife and two young children to support, so I need to try and stay alive.

Simon: Do you drug or defang the snakes? Cobra: No.

Simon: What do you feed the snakes? Cobra: We feed chicken to the big snakes, and eggs, rats, crickets and sometimes frogs to the medium-sized snakes.

Simon: Do you have snakes crawling round your home? Cobra: No, I do not have snakes in my house. I like to leave my work at the ‘office’.

Simon: Do they ever escape? If so, what do you do? Cobra: When one escapes I catch it by the tail, then put it back in its cage. We’re lucky enough to have very understanding neighbours.

Simon: If I come across a snake, what should I do? Cobra: Try not to panic, which is obviously easier said than done, but is very important. If you scream the snake will get scared and will surely strike you. Move very, very slowly away.

Simon: Do spectators freak out? Cobra: When one of my colleagues is handling the snakes, I find it amusing to watch the audience. The men are generally more frightened than the women. I find it particularly funny when I see some big, beefy guy hiding behind his wife, with his face white as a sheet and sweat pouring off him. Of course, I wouldn’t dream of being so rude as so show my amusement.

Simon: Can you make a reasonable living out of snake handling? Cobra: Yes, it is possible but hard work as snakes must be looked after, just like any other animal. Also, because the life span of small snakes is short (four to five years), you have to have a constant supply of new animals. Catching wild snakes is the most dangerous part of the job and sometimes frightens me witless.

Simon: What advice would you give to wannabe snake handlers? Cobra: Lots of snake handlers die on the job. In Thailand we can’t get life insurance. Even after you survive the most dangerous first few years in the job, don’t become complacent. I remember one snake handler of 30 years’ experience who didn’t seek treatment after a king cobra bit him. After three days he died, totally unnecessarily. For your own sake as well as the animals’ well-being, be kind to the snakes - they are often used in shows day-after-day and this can cause trauma, which can make them more dangerous.

Simon: What advice can you give tourists who wish to avoid accidental encounters with snakes. Cobra: Just the obvious advice: do not walk through undergrowth or grass where you can’t see where you are putting your feet. If you follow this advice and stay at an up-market resort, the chances of your coming across a snake are negligible.

Whilst in Thailand, why not visit one of the country’s currently best three beach destinations:

Koh Lao Liang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/kohlaoliang.shtml

Ao Nang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml

Railay/Tonsai: http://www.andamanadventures.com/railay-tonsai.shtml

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About the Author

Runs Andaman Sky Co., Ltd, specialising in climbing and diving trips to Thailand’s best beach destinations.

How long does the average king cobra live?

A long time, Mr. Chung. Especially if it eats a few hands every month. I would venture to guess that they live for 7 years, on average.

Police Reports - Northeast Suburban Life
Aaron Houghton, 36, 249 Clifton Ave. Apartment 1F, felony warrant, drug possession at 5959 Kellogg Ave., Feb. 17.

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