Viral video of snake handling is ‘horrifying’, ‘unacceptable’: Animal activists

SHERLYN SEAH Today Online 11 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE — Animal experts and activists, including Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng, have expressed horror and disgust at a viral online video — supposedly part of a training programme — showing a man handling a live python roughly by stepping on and throwing it onto the floor.

Mr Ng, who is also the founder and chief executive of animal welfare group, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), shared the video on his Facebook page on Monday (March 11).

“When you see the video, it’s horrifying what they did and completely unacceptable,” said Mr Ng, who is an MP for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency.

“Training is important, but it shouldn’t compromise the well-being of the animal.”

He also pointed out that a number of those who commented on the video on his Facebook page had echoed his sentiments, including those who did not like snakes.

“Some people who were scared of snakes were even saying that they shouldn't do that. And that says something,” he added.

TODAY understands that the snake handlers featured in the video are employees from pest control firm PestBusters and has reached out to them for comment.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said that it is investigating the matter. It has also issued a set of guidelines on the proper handling of snakes to all pest control and wildlife management agencies in Singapore.

“For example, snakes should not be unduly harmed by the persons handling it and appropriate equipment should be used to catch them,” said the authority.

‘THROWING AN ANIMAL IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE’

The incident captured on video was “definitely a case of abuse”, said Acres deputy chief executive Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, who oversees all of the group’s wild animal rescue efforts in Singapore. These include the rescue of snakes and other reptiles.

Calling the actions of the man in the video “horrible”, Mr Kalaivanan also pointed out several areas of concern.

“First, the snake was not handled properly. They were extremely cruel in the way they trained, to step on the snake and throwing it like that. Throwing an animal is totally unacceptable,” said the 33-year-old.

“Snakes are wild animals protected by law, just like penguins and otters. They should be getting the same sort of protection and respect.”

Mr Kalaivanan was also of the opinion that this was not the first time the snake handlers in the video had treated the animal in this manner. He said it appeared that the snake had been used for “repeated trainings” based on the employees’ conversations in the video, adding that this “causes a lot of fatigue and distress” to the animal.

Acres does not use live animals when conducting training programmes, choosing to use soft toys along with videos to educate people, said Mr Kalaivanan.

Volunteers also accompany experienced professionals on live rescue missions to gain hands-on experience.

“Handling animals is not just about how to catch them. You need to have compassion, some sense of respect. You need to know what kind of animal you’re catching,” he added.

TRAINING SHOULD BE DONE BY EXPERTS

Pest control experts whom TODAY spoke to felt that the snake handlers in the video had not conducted themselves well.

“What they did in the video, that’s just not right,” said Mr Shawn Seah, 27, operations manager at Top Pest Control.

While his company does not run training programmes, it hires experienced technicians who are trained and possess the qualifications to handle animals such as snakes.

“They should get someone from Acres, AVA or the zoo (to conduct the training), these people have the expertise to carry out proper training… show them what the proper way is,” he added.

Service manager Eddie Lim, 42, who declined to name the pest control firm he works for, said that the company carries out “educated” and “humane” training programmes for its employees.

“They are trained to use proper equipment and techniques. We have towels and soft bags to store the animal safely. We only use snake tongs if absolutely necessary,” said Mr Lim.

“Our lead technician has years of experience in dealing with snakes. Even though snakes aren’t really liked by people, he knows how to treat them.”

LICENSE FIRMS THAT HANDLE WILD ANIMALS: NG

When asked what could be done to prevent such cases of animal mistreatment from recurring, Mr Ng said he was “looking into it”, as he highlighted the limitations of the Wild Animals and Birds Act.

Although there are currently laws in place to protect animal welfare, these only take effect when the cruelty has already happened, Mr Ng pointed out.

“We need to be more proactive and tackle the problem from its root.”

Mr Ng added that he will be proposing amendments to the Act, such as licences for pest control firms that handle wild animals such as snakes as they “need to be properly trained and accredited”.

Last year, Mr Ng started a public consultation exercise on feedback portal Reach for these proposed amendments.

He said that “people were very supportive,” and that he is working with his team to continue pushing for the amendments.

Mr Ng also pointed out that the viral video was not the first instance of companies mishandling snakes and other animals. “Sometimes, these animals have to be removed for safety, but it has to be done ethically,” he said.


Pestbusters unlikely to punish staff for throwing and stepping on snake; AVA investigating
Toh Ting Wei Straits Times 12 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE - Animal welfare authorities are investigating an incident in which two employees of a pest control company allegedly mistreated a snake.

The incident, which has angered wildlife groups, came to light last week when two videos of men handling a python were uploaded onto Facebook, before later being taken down.

In one video, a man wearing a PestBusters uniform lifts a sack containing a python and throws in on the ground. A second man is then seen stepping on the reptile and using a clamp to try to trap the snake's head, but this failed to work.

At least two other men are heard talking and laughing in the background as the incident unfolds.

In the other video, the second man finally catches the snake with the clamp, picks it up with his hands and throws it to the ground.

The snake appears listless throughout the incident.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told The Straits Times on Monday (March 11) that it is investigating the case. A spokesman said: "AVA has issued a set of guidelines on the proper handling of snakes to all pest control and wildlife management agencies in Singapore.

"For example, snakes should not be unduly harmed by the persons handling it and appropriate equipment should be used to catch them."

PestBusters technical director Eugene Surendra said on Monday that the firm is investigating the incident, which likely occurred "quite some years back".

He said the staff member filmed in the video was wearing a shirt that indicated he was a junior employee but he is now a senior member of the team.

Mr Eugene said the incident occurred when senior staff members wanted to show junior employees how to trap a snake.

"I don't think there will be any punishment meted out because they (the senior staff) were using their own initiative to train the younger guys in handling a snake, and probably this guy was a bit scared," he added.

"Snakes are hardy animals... To a layman it may seem cruel, but we are not holding the snakes to the ground and hitting them on the head."

A former PestBusters employee who declined to be named told The Straits Times that the company used to keep larger-sized pythons it caught for about a week to practice trapping techniques before releasing them back into the wild.

He added that the pythons were fed and would be allowed to rest once they displayed signs of lethargy.

Mr Eugene said the practice now would be to keep captured pythons overnight before releasing them.

The witness who took the videos refuted the Pestbusters claim that the incident took place years ago, claiming that it happened just last Thursday (March 7).

The witness also alleged that there were several other PestBusters operators who took turns to throw the snake onto the ground before trapping it again.

The incident has angered the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and the Herpetological Society of Singapore (HSS).

Acres deputy chief executive Kalai Vanan said: "The handling is wrong, cruel and extremely disturbing.

"How can a pest control company be holding on to a wild animal protected by law, just like an otter or a pangolin, and use it for training and throw it around like a piece of rubbish? Where is this poor snake now?"

He called for the authorities to take action as the incident was a "serious case of animal cruelty".

HSS co-founder Sankar Ananthanarayanan added: "It's clear from the video that the python is fatigued and stressed.

"If this had been any other animal like a dog or cat, there would have been no debate about it being abuse.

"I think the big issue is that there should be a culture of respect for native wildlife regardless of whether it's something we find cute or not."