SINGAPORE - Ms Nicole Lim was at home on the afternoon of March 10, going through her son’s homework with him when she received an alarming text message from a neighbour: A large snake had been spotted just outside her house in Jurong West.
The text message came with a photo of the snake’s head emerging from a drain, inches away from where Ms Lim had parked her car outside her Westwood Crescent home.
Ms Lim called the National Parks Board (NParks), who advised her to report if the snake emerged from the drain again. When a neighbour saw it again later that day at around 6pm, Ms Lim’s father-in-law contacted NParks.
NParks officers arrived about an hour later to remove the snake from the drain, said Ms Lim.
“We were all very scared and apprehensive,” she told The Straits Times.
“But we kept a distance to observe and also advised our kids not to come out of the house... We also warned our neighbours not to go near our parked car.”
In response to ST queries, NParks’ Wildlife Management Group Director How Choon Beng said on March 11 that a Sunda king cobra, approximately 2m long, was removed safely from Westwood Crescent and sent to NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation for veterinary assessment. If found to be suitable for release, it will be freed in a forested area away from human dwellings.
It added that the species is native to Singapore, and can be found in forested areas and its fringes such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve. While it is venomous, it is generally shy and will try to move away from humans.
In a video recording of the incident shared by Ms Lim, two NParks officers are seen attempting to remove the snake from the drain using snake tongs.
The cobra can be seen expanding its hood for a few seconds as it is being lifted and placed in a container.
NParks advised members of the public who encounter a snake to stay calm and back away slowly, giving the animal space to retreat. The snake should be left alone, and the public should not approach or attempt to handle the animal. Pets should be kept on a tight leash.
The public can call the NParks helpline at 1800-476-1600 if assistance is required.
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