THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 21 November 05 Snake charmer catches 5.4 metre cobra

Kuala Lumpur (AP): A man caught a rare, 5.4-metre-long poisonous king cobra using just his hands after firefighters and a team of volunteers failed to capture it outside a school in northern Malaysia, a news report says.

Wildlife officials called in snake charmer Mohamad Shaiful Abdul Aziz, 21, nicknamed the "Snake King" by the locals in Penang state, after firefighters spent about an hour trying to capture the cobra hiding among bushes at a rehabilitation centre for juvenile delinquents, the Star newspaper reported today.

Mohamad Shaiful, who performs at snake shows, took 10 minutes and used no nets or other equipment, just his hands.

"I have never come across such a big king cobra," he was quoted as saying.

The snake, which weighed 15kg, was handed over to the wildlife officials, the report said.

A wildlife ranger at a Penang national park declined to comment on the report.

Environmental conservationists have said in the past dwindling habitat and deforestation in Malaysia could force wild animals to venture into areas populated by humans.

About two months ago, a 5-metre-long king cobra was discovered draped around a statue at a Hindu temple in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.

The spectacle drew thousands of believers and onlookers bearing offerings of milk, eggs and cash, who considered the appearance as sacred and extraordinary. The king cobra is depicted as powerful in Hindu scriptures and is revered by believers.

The king cobra is the world's longest venomous snake, growing up to 5.5 metres in length.
Snake charmer catches 5.4 metre cobra

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