MIRI: Snakes usually enter areas inhabited by human in search of food and shelter.
In 2020, from January until December, a total of 277 snakes comprising various species were caught by Miri Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba).
“Topping the chart for the most snakes we caught was python followed by venomous species, the cobra,” disclosed Bomba Zone 6 chief Supt Law Poh Kiong to the New Sarawak Tribune today.
Amongst all the four fire stations under Zone 6, namely Miri central; Lopeng fire station; Batu Niah fire station and Marudi, Law added, that Miri central fire station was the busiest this year in snake-catching operations with 120 snakes caught.
“Lopeng fire station recorded 97, followed by Marudi fire station and Batu Niah with 18 each,” he explained.
He pointed out that most of these snakes were trying to escape from its natural habitat due to being disturbed by works done on development and that driven out the snakes and had resulted in them to look for a more conducive environment.
For Miri fire station, the species they often found out entering houses were pythons.
“Snakes are shy animals who want nothing to do with people; they are just afraid of us as we are of them,” Law said.
For firemen and rescuers from Lopeng and Miri fire stations, their busiest period of catching snakes for the whole 2020 was from January to September.
“During that period, we received and deployed personnel to catch snakes that entered homes of local residents in more than 15 cases of snake-catching operations monthly,” he pointed out.
Law also advised the public to stay calm when encountering snakes inside their homes and to immediately call up Bomba or other relevant agencies for help.
