Displaced snakes now village’s mortal enemy

MAKILALA, North Cotabato – King cobras are descending on a village in this town as a result of habitat loss, prompting village officials to turn their ire on the snakes following the death of a resident due to snakebite last week.

Anaclito Abing, head of the village of Kisante, said the victim, a 57-year-old woman, was harvesting star apple in her farm when a king cobra, locally known as banakon, struck causing her death.

Future snake attacks

Abing said he had asked his constituents to help rid the village of the snakes, which are believed to have settled near the Bulatukan River.

Abing said the campaign to rid the village of the snakes is meant “to spare our children and constituents from future snake attacks.”

Abing said he believed the snakes sought refuge near the river after the destruction of their habitat as a result of land conversion and development in the mountainous parts of the village.

Loss of forest cover

The loss of forest cover, however, is something that the village should accept, he said.

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

He said since last year, at least three persons have died due to snakebites.

At least three snakes, measuring at least 2.44 meters (8 feet) long and weighing 8 to 10 kilograms, had been killed by residents.

He urged neighboring villages to join the campaign.Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao