{"id":20331,"date":"2025-12-16T13:10:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T05:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20331"},"modified":"2025-12-16T13:10:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T05:10:52","slug":"5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-during-a-snake-encounter-in-spore-according-to-a-wildlife-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20331","title":{"rendered":"5 common mistakes to avoid during a snake encounter in S\u2019pore, according to a wildlife expert"},"content":{"rendered":"


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What to actually do when you encounter a snake in Singapore<\/h2>\n

In Singapore, coming across a snake is hardly rare. Just as common are the mistakes people make when it happens, which can lead to injuries or even fines.<\/span><\/p>\n

MS News<\/span><\/i> spoke to Dr Francis Seow-Choen, a colorectal surgeon and wildlife expert, about what <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> to do when you spot a slithery visitor.<\/span><\/p>\n

1) Assuming snakes are dangerous & out to kill you<\/h3>\n

\u200b\u200b\u201cThe most common error is to think that the snake is out to bite and therefore kill people,\u201d said Dr Seow-Choen.<\/span><\/p>\n

In reality, most snakes are shyer than an introverted teen and want nothing to do with humans. They strike only when threatened, and out of Singapore\u2019s 75 land snake species, <\/span>just seven are considered particularly venomous to humans<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 26 Nov, <\/span>residents in Sembawang spotted a Sumatran spitting cobra<\/span><\/a> under a playground bench, prompting concerns that it might harm children. But Dr Seow-Choen said the snake was likely just passing through.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Chelsia Lee on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cUnlike dogs or cats, snakes never chase people to bite them,\u201d he explained, adding that cobras also rely on hissing and hood-flaring long before they consider biting or spitting venom.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Panicking & provoking snakes<\/h3>\n

Once someone assumes a snake is a lethal threat, panic tends to follow. And that panic often drives people to provoke the animal in an attempt to chase it away or even kill it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThrowing things or trying to chase a snake will only agitate it,\u201d Dr Seow-Choen said. \u201cThe best course of action is to give the snake a clear path to retreat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most bites happen when people get too close while attempting to confront the animal. Snakes, in turn, can be seriously injured or killed when frightened.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image courtesy of Dr Seow-Choen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

So stay calm, step back, and let it leave on its own. And if the risk of a bite isn\u2019t deterrent enough, <\/span>the S$10,000 fine for killing a snake<\/span><\/a> might be.<\/span><\/p>\n

3) Attempting to personally catch a snake<\/h3>\n

On 13 Aug, a video <\/span>surfaced showing<\/span> four men attempting to capture a python perched on a coffeeshop roof<\/span><\/a> in Teck Whye.<\/span><\/p>\n

One man hit it with a broom, sending it tumbling into the shop, and the group chased after it with the same broom and a plastic chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: @pohtan2312 on TikTok<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Although they eventually caught it, Dr Seow-Choen firmly disagreed with their approach, noting that pythons are nocturnal and often rest quietly in roof beams or trees during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is absolutely no rush to capture a sleeping python,\u201d he said, adding that the men had ample time to call NParks instead of attempting amateur snake wrangling (which is best left to the pros or to onscreen heroes in films like the new \u2018Anaconda\u2019).<\/span><\/p>\n

4) Identifying & grabbing \u2018non-venomous\u2019 snakes<\/h3>\n

On 10 Nov, a property executive named Ben found a juvenile snake in a condo carpark. Believing it to be a non-venomous wolf snake, he picked it up with his bare hands and <\/span>carried it to some nearby greenery<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"snake<\/p>\n

Source: Benedict Haridas on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Dr Seow-Choen acknowledged that Ben had identified the species correctly but strongly advised the public not to follow suit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt could turn out to be a venomous snake,\u201d he said, noting that misidentification is common and that online tips about head shape or pupils are unreliable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even non-venomous species can cause injuries. Large constrictors like reticulated pythons \u2014 and anacondas in other parts of the world \u2014 can deliver painful bites despite lacking venom, so it is better to be safe than sorry.<\/span><\/p>\n

5) Bothering snakes spotted in the wild<\/h3>\n

While many encounters happen in built-up areas, snakes are also a natural part of Singapore\u2019s parks and reserves.<\/span><\/p>\n

In April 2023, a Facebook user came across a <\/span>black-and-white snake in the grass at Pasir Ris Park<\/span><\/a>. A netizen identified it as a highly venomous banded krait and advised calling the authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"snake<\/p>\n

Source: Jimmy Fbk on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Dr Seow-Choen, however, felt <\/span>this was unnecessary<\/span>. \u201cMany of these snakes are part and parcel of our outdoor and wild areas,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would be the equivalent of a snake entering your house and calling NParks to remove you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

No wonder the anaconda in the 1997 classic was so mad.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to actually do when encountering a snake<\/h3>\n

Handling a snake encounter in Singapore is far simpler than trying to chase or confront one.<\/span><\/p>\n

All you need to do is stay calm and keep still so you don\u2019t startle the animal. Once you\u2019ve composed yourself, back away slowly until there is enough space for both you and the snake to move off safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"snake<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Dr Seow-Choen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If the snake is in an urban or recreational area, call NParks at 1800-476-1600 or ACRES at 9783 7782. If it\u2019s in the wild, the best thing you can do is exactly what the snake hopes you will do: leave it alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to spot an \u2018Anaconda\u2019 in Singapore that doesn\u2019t bite<\/h3>\n

If the idea of running into a real reptile still gives you the shivers (even though you\u2019ll be perfectly fine following the steps above), there <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> a way to get up close to an enormous snake with zero risk of venom or constriction. Well, sort of.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sony Pictures Entertainment<\/b> has released a dramatic Fake Out-of-Home (FOOH) video featuring a massive \u2018anaconda\u2019 slithering through Clarke Quay<\/a>, gliding past the Singapore River and eventually perching on the Old Hill Street Police Station building.<\/span><\/p>\n

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@sonypicturessg<\/a> <\/p>\n

A giant anaconda spotted in Singapore! \ud83d\udc0d See AnacondaMovie exclusively in cinemas 25 December. AnacondaMovieSG \ud83d\udcf9: @Lioncolony <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 sonypicturessg \u2013 sonypicturessg<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The spectacle sets the stage perfectly for \u2018Anaconda\u2019, which slithers into cinemas on <\/span>25 Dec<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This action-packed reboot brings the giant snake back in all its blockbuster glory, complete with outsized chase sequences, laugh-out-loud moments from Jack Black and Paul Rudd, and a fresh spin on the classic flick.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the new film, the pair play two middle-aged friends who attempt to remake their favourite 1997 snake movie, only to find themselves deep in the Amazon, face-to-fang with a real anaconda.<\/span><\/p>\n