An avid birdwatcher has questioned NParks’ decision to close a nature trail at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve following a king cobra sighting, calling the move an “over-reaction”.
Speaking to Stomp, Myron Tay said he was at the Butterfly Trail near Neo Tiew Crescent car park at about 12pm on March 21 to spot a bird when he spotted a king cobra curled up beside the boardwalk.
Shortly after, he realised the trail had been closed.
“It was a bird that I have been looking forward to see and photograph. It is called the forest wagtail,” explained the 52-year-old retiree.
“I also found out from the NParks officer that closed the trail that the reason for the trail closure was the presence of the king cobra.”
Mr Tay snapped a photo and posted about the incident on Facebook, questioning the need for the closure. He suggested that visitors could instead be allowed entry at their own risk, such as by signing an indemnity form.
He added that driving could be more dangerous than encountering a snake.
“So for the same reason for closing off trails where snakes were encountered, why not ban access to certain roads as a matter of public safety?” he asked.
Mr Tay told Stomp that the cobra appeared to be “in a relaxed state of rest” beside the boardwalk.
He claimed that visitors were advised not to linger around the area, “even though the snake was not doing anything”.
