Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 ***************************Advertisement*************************** ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my) URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/5/13/nation/10941136 & sec=nation ________________________ Friday May 13, 2005 Snake population up in Kedah <b>BY SIRA HABIBU</b> JITRA: Low demand for snake meat in the international market following the bird flu scare has resulted in an increase in the number of snakes in Kedah. Demand dropped because consumers feared that snakes could be feeding on sick chicken. Snake-catching used to be a lucrative industry that could easily fetch RM300 a day, said part-time snake-catcher Norizan Ahmad. “But now we can only get about RM100 as the price has dropped to RM16 per kilogram. Snakes used to fetch between RM40 and RM50 per kilogram,” he said. Norizan said cobras from rural areas were much sought-after by snake importers from Taiwan and Hong Kong. “The meat of the kampung cobra is regarded as a delicacy,” said the 36-year-old lorry driver, who ventured into the snake-catching business three years ago. “No one taught me how to catch snakes and I have been lucky so far in not getting bitten,” he said. “I know catching the venomous cobra is a risky business. But the returns are worth it as it helps supplement my income,” he said, adding that he sold king cobras to Malaysian “snake king” Ali Khan Shamsudin. Norizan is so good at his job that the Jitra Fire and Rescue Department would call him to catch snakes that had wandered into houses. “Snakes usually understand our gestures. Good snakes that trespass into homes would usually leave after the occupant ‘tells’ it to leave. “Snakes that refuse to budge after being told three times to leave are usually up to no good. “But people should not hit the snake before telling it to leave. They must give the snake a chance to leave. “If the snake is hit without being told to leave, the occupants would not be at peace with themselves. “I have seen this happening. Domestic quarrels often occur in homes where the occupants hit the snakes,” he said. Norizan takes his nine-year-old son Norsalam along to help track and catch the snakes. In view of the increased incidences of snakebites, the Kedah Wildlife Department has offered temporary licences to snake-catchers in a move to control the snake population. Licences are issued for trapping ular senduk (asiatic cobra), ular tedung selar (king cobra) and ular sawa (python). <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2004 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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