Snake poaching in Johor on the rise

Sim Bak Heng, New Straits Times 16 Apr 10;

JOHOR BARU: The increasing demand for snake skins by Thailand's leather industry and live snakes in China's exotic food sector have led to a flourishing trade of a different kind in Malaysian jungles.

For years, thousands of snakes, including pythons, have been trapped by poachers, who included Thais, who came and camped in the jungles.

After they had caught enough snakes, the reptiles are sent back through illegal means and sold to agents. Pythons are hunted for their skins to make, among others, handbags, wallets and belts.

Other types of snakes, such as cobras and kraits, are hunted for their gall bladders which are dried and used as an ingredient in traditional medicinal preparations.

Live snakes are usually exported to China as some people there believe that consuming the reptiles' blood could clean their own blood and that snake gall bladder has detoxification properties.

Malaysia Nature Society (Johor branch) adviser Vincent Chow said snakes were reducing in numbers due to poaching.

"With the increasing use of snakes for the leather industry and exotic food sector, the reptile is now very much sought after in the jungle."

Checks show that snake skins are sold for between RM15 and RM20 for a quarter metre while the meat is sold at about RM25 per kg.