North Cotabato village orders hunt for King Cobra

MAKILALA, North Cotabato, Philippines – Local officials of Barangay Kisante here will launch an operation against King Cobras, locally known as “banakon,” following the death of a grandmother due to a snake bite last week.

Anaclito Abing, chairman of Barangay Kisante, said a 57-year old grandmother was harvesting star apples in her farm when attacked by a “banakon.”

Abing said he already issued an order urging his constituents to join in the cleanup drive and hunt for King Cobras suspected to be hiding near the Bulatukan River.

“We will do this to spare our children and our constituents from future snake attacks,” Abing explained.

Abing believes that the snakes have sought refuge near the river following the destruction of their habitat due to land conversion and development particularly in the mountainous areas of the village.

“We should accept the fact that banana plantations are mushrooming in our place, which might have caused these creatures to look for safer place and, this time, near the populace,” Abing said.

He said since last year, at least three persons have died of snake bites.

At least three snakes, measuring at least eight feet long and weighing 8 to 10 kilograms, had been killed by residents.

He urged neighboring villages to launch a “snakehunt.”

“Let us unite. I know that this is not an easy job, but we need to do it for ourselves and our people in the barangay,” Abing said.

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