Spitting cobra in drain beside school field: Cleaner pins venomous snake down with brush
He killed it.
A cleaner pinned down an Equatorial spitting cobra with a brush after the snake was spotted in an open drain beside a field in a school.
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) on May 31 posted on social media that it received a call on its rescue hotline about the reptile on March 6.
According to the cleaner, he was concerned for the safety of the students who were participating in school camp activities about 20m away.
"When our rescue team arrived, the snake had died possibly from being pinned down," said the post.
"The burning questions are - did the snake deserve to die? Can we do better? Can we empower personnel with knowledge to avoid fear?
"To put things in perspective, the snake wasn't going on a rampage killing or biting people. The cobra was just where they are usually sighted in drains with toads and frogs. Their presence is likely transient.
"In fact, snakes are shy animals and do not seek human presence."
Acres said that by confronting the venomous snake, the cleaner, who knew little about handling a snake, was unwittingly putting his own safety at risk!
"What to do then, you ask?" continued the post.
Acres said the distance between the snake and the students was more than enough for school staff to calmly gather and move the students to another area.
"Monitor the snake naturally retreating, from a distance (5m or more). If the snake is moving towards an enclosed area, like the storeroom or office, you can call either of these help lines - ACRES (97837782) or NParks Animal Response Centre (1800-476-1600) for assistance."
The society added: "Our team has engaged with the school, fostering discussions on safe coexistence. We're pleased to share that the school management is receptive, considering revisions to their wildlife interaction protocols for staff and students."
Acres also pointed out that under the Wildlife Act, harming wildlife carries severe penalties.
In 2023, a man was fined $1,000 after he was caught on camera killing a python with a cleaver in Boon Lay.
First-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to six months, or both.
