Snakes are a major problem in Bangkok, with one emergency hotline reporting a call for assistance about snakes every 15 minutes, and approximately 60,000 snake removals occurring each year.
The figures were released after a Bangkok posted a photo of a large boa constrictor clinging to a tree in the Din Daeng neighborhood on August 25, sparking a strong reaction in the neighborhood and beyond.
A huge boa constrictor hangs from a tree in Bangkok's Din Daeng district on Thursday, August 25. Photo: Pangrum Dindaeng Facebook page
Emergency workers at the 199 hotline said on Saturday (August 27) that some 200 calls are being made daily in Bangkok asking for help getting rid of snakes, monitor lizards and wasps.
Snakes account for about half of the calls, according to operators.
"On average, a report is made every 15 minutes during each 24-hour period," said one operator.
The helpline reports a success rate of over 90% in capturing snakes, stating that the animals are handed over to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants so they can be released into suitable natural environments.
Alongkorn Mahanop, an advisor to the Zoological Park Organization, says no official survey of the snake population has been conducted in Bangkok, so no accurate statistics are available.
However, he estimates there are probably close to a thousand snakes in each district of the city, making encounters likely.
“The high snake population in Bangkok is due to the fact that residents do not consume snakes, which means the reptiles have no direct predators in the city, while they have an abundance of prey such as dogs, cats and chickens,” said Dr. Alongkorn.
According to the veterinarian, 90% of the snakes found in the capital are boas, the remaining 10% being pythons.
See also:
How to Prevent Snakes from Getting into Your Toilet
Mysterious snake with green fur discovered in Thailand
A woman in central Thailand fights off a snake that crawled out of her toilet
Source: Bangkok Post
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