I have been
birdwatching for a period which spans more than ten years.
During these trips especially in the forests, I have seen snakes only on a few
occasions. The one I have come across are common, like the whip-snakes,
bronze-backs, cobras, pit-vipers, kraits and once, a banded coral-snake. Actually,
just as well as birds, I do get a thrill watching snakes and I always would like to get to
see more of their species. There are over 130 species of snakes in Malaysia and so
far I have seen only a handful of them. Many a person will shudder just hearing the
word "snake". Whenever I was able to see one, I showed no fear but
fascination for the slithery creature. However, my fascination turned into a
nightmare after I had an encounter with a python. The memory of that encounter will
always haunt me whenver I see any snake, be it harmless or venomous.
That fateful day, four
years ago, I was with Kanda and Terry Domico trekking-cum-birdwatching at the Teluk Bahang
Forest Reserve. We decided to try a trail which we had not done before. It
was during one of the 5-minute breaks that I had the scary encounter. Terry was
standing beside a tree and leaning against the trunk. As he happened to look down,
he caught sight of a python lying coiled up on the ground, right at his feet. If he
had takaen just one more step, it would have got to him first. Immediately, we
gathered around the sleeping python.
It was not really that big
and I estimated the length to be 7 to 8 feet. I am not so sure but I think it could
be another of the python species found in Malaysia. The Short or Blood Python (Python
curtus) does not grow to more than 9 feet in length. It is dark brown or
reddish in colour and is also found in the forests. The Malay neme is Ular Sawa
Tikus / Batu / Katak. It is still a "baby" in size, compared to its
cousin, the Reticulated Python (the largest snake in the world) which can measure up to 30
feet in length.
We took the opportunity to
be close to the python. Kanda was so busy taking pictures of it with his camera that
he finished his roll of film in no time. It was then for no apparent reason Terry
bent over and gently tapped on the dormant python. I had no idea what prompted his
action. Fortunately, there was no response. Feeling not satisfied, he again
tapped on it, this time harder and at once the python sprung up. Kanda and Terry was
able to side-step safely away from it. I was unable to, because I was standing in
its direction of its escape. The position where I stood had blocked its only path to
the stream, about 30 feet away. As it rushed towards me, I had to back-pedal but I
slipped and landed face-down on a slope, leaving me face to face with the oncoming python.
Somehow, it paused, barely 2 feet from my face, and opened its menacing mouth which
scared the *!?# out of me.
Well, that small python
had a really big mouth. When it is opened, I think my whole head could go in
easily. At that moment, I was stunned. So when it lunged at me, I thought I
was a goner! I just closed my eyes and lowered my head. I did not even have
the time to think of my family. I supposed Kanda and Terry were able to pull me out
from its mouth in time. But then again, ....... what if they were stunned too to
save me!
But a miracle had
happened. I was still lying down and when I opened my eyes and looked back, hoping
to catch a glimpse of the python, it had vanished. It was all over in a flash.
I was told later that the python "flew" right over my head, went down the slope
and disappeared into the stream. There was dead silence after that. I remained
calm despite the ordeal I had just been through. I was totally amazed by the speed
and agility of the python and what further amazed me was that I was still in one piece and
not in its mouth! I picked myself up, brushed the dirt off my clothes and then I
felt a sudden chill through my body ..... I realised I had suffered a mild shock.
Don't get my wrong!
It is not that I am scared of snakes now but I rather watch them especially pythons from a
very safe distance! So don't yawn in front of me without covering your mouth or else
you will give me the creeps recalling the open mouth of the python.
As for Terry, please LET
SLEEPING SNAKES LIE.
