The snake catchers of Bangkok | DW Documentary

Bangkok's fire department catches more snakes than it extinguishes fires. During the rainy season the reptiles often hide in peoples' homes. With snakes ranging from harmless to highly poisonous, fireman Sontaya Wangjam never knows what to expect.
The Thai capital Bangkok has been growing tremendously in recent years. But this means the natural habitat of some 200 different snake species indigenous to the region is slowly disappearing. Sontaya Wangjam’s job is to catch some of the most venomous of them. The snake catcher has thick, protective gloves and a variety of traps to ensnare the reptiles. Though carnivorous snakes also play an important role in keeping Bangkok’s rat population under control. Florian Nusch reports.
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[@VladimirTolskiy]

This guy needs his own TV show. Like the crocodile hunter.

[@hollawait]

Sadly not everyone has business ideas and sometimes those who do don't have the finance

[@RIRI-el6xm]

This is the most anti-Semitic comment I have ever heard. Thank you !

[@00CooG00]

My exact thought. If the y did a youtube series they'd make Bank.

[@kiki29073]

Those shows are no longer popular. Animal planet rarely has decent shows. Most people would be better off filming and producing things for themselves instead of TV.

[@staminapromos]

Just a note. No snakes are poisonous. Some are venomous.

[@i_like_to_move_it_move_it]

Actually some are poisonous if you eat them

[@MaxSujyReact]

@@i_like_to_move_it_move_it In Thailand, none are poisonous.

[@skylifecod1596]

There are Red necked keelback Thailand

[@kiki29073]

There is one species that is both poisonous and venomous and ironically that one species IS found in Thailand. 😊

[@benmike8296]

So interesting thanks DW

[@mostlyscifi]

Give this guy a tv show. He deserves it!

[@00Andreas00]

It's venomous and not poisonous.

[@donalain69]

Sets them free in national parks?! Damn.. I live next to one in hua hin. 🙄

[@KatieBlue16]

Unlucky 👀😂😂

[@KatieBlue16]

It's all great to catch the snakes from the houses, but stacking them up in the crates? Won't they suffocate/starve?

[@MaxSujyReact]

No, Snakes eat every few weeks. + they are release later on.

[@craigross341]

My mate had little snakes in his garden in Phra Khanong, right in the middle of Bangkok. He took a live and let live attitude! I couldn't have.

[@iceman81179]

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous.

[@davewilson3569]

These are the worst brut snake catchers I've ever seen.

[@wildsimon]

Agreed. It is terrible.

[@JoaquinPais]

I live here in thailand 🇹🇭 I found a snake in my bedroom today after nap. Was a small one but it's not the first time. I like snakes and don't want to kill them.

[@Mazigaro]

How did it get inside 😮 window open or throigh the roof

[@maninderjeetsingh7470]

Hey DW tv can u please make a documentary on Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism. It’s his 550 birth anniversary this month. Please please please

[@DWDocumental]

Hi Maninderjeet Singh, we are working on it!

[@maninderjeetsingh7470]

Thank u so much.

[@williamjames212]

I am completely suprised that they responded to you.

[@yuma9406]

I live in Thailand. From what I’ve heard the snakes caught will eventually be released back to the wild.

[@donalain69]

That’s what they say at the end of the video..

[@JK-vy8vh]

Can you own a snake in Thailand?

[@yuma9406]

@@JK-vy8vh there are 14 protected types which are illegal to own. Some need permission. Apart from that, you can own snakes as many as you want as long as you can feed them. You might not be able to export them though.

[@JK-vy8vh]

@@yuma9406 Thanks for the info. Do they have blood pythons from outside Thailand available? (Python Brongersmai) they’re on that list but they’re also found outside Thailand in the same region.

[@DJTHORR..]

They said 'Every once in a while' which is not good enough

[@PapaFunDip]

Bruh a monitor lizard once walked into my living room while I was playing Monster Hunter World on the PS4. it was mid Kulve Taroth Hunt. My first thought was "just like the simulations" and was going to go grab a golf club. But i just stared at it for a while and turned back to playing MHW. After a few mins it just walked out and chilled in the garden.

[@JK-vy8vh]

Can you own snakes/reptiles in Thailand?

[@MaxSujyReact]

@@JK-vy8vh Yes

[@oliverkhoo]

Why do they keep changing into slippers?

[@yeahzeeroo]

Because its comfortable, norm of the country. I wouldn't want to be stuck in those big protective boots all day long.

[@craigross341]

You've obviously not felt the heat in Bangkok.

[@Baisoejddbhd]

Snake hunter that’s a pretty dope job

[@sais8681]

Those poor snakes without food and piled up together. Bad handling

[@UnbenutzerKanalname]

they are likely left there to die...

[@Bjizzle41]

Lol what do you want to do with the snakes

[@williamjames212]

Do you the want the snakes to eat you? Burmese pythons are not a joke.

[@ally-ql6hh]

@@williamjames212 they’re still an animal. they have their place in the ecosystem. snakes help with pest problems and are very beneficial to humans. unless you like living with rats that carry the plague (literally), salmonella, rat bite fever, and LCMV (which causes nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and then eventually turns into meningitis). and that’s not everything. keeping them properly is the best way to go about this situation. he needs to keep them individually & take them out deep into the woods every week. in their cages they need something to hide in (or climb on) and some water. that’s the bare minimum. there is literally no excuses for mistreating animals. there’s always humane ways to go about these situations.

[@turtle2pond]

If you listened a nature conservatory unit comes to pick up the snakes and release them in national parks. During the rainy season when there are a lot of snakes the cages fills up quicker than usual. So strange you missed that part of the documentary.

[@zoltantolgyesi3891]

Absolutely disgusting the way they handle and treat the animals.

[@kiki29073]

Rat snakes aren't that dangerous. They aren't venomous nor do they get big enough to consume a human. I doubt if they could even eat a small child/baby.

[@lil----lil]

A needle shot gun is all that you need. Seriously. Don't make it too complicated.

[@nicolek4076]

I wonder if you are from the USA. The point of snakes is that they are useful ... in the right place, so relocate them, don't kill them.

[@lil----lil]

@@nicolek4076 I agree. Nicole. I'm against anime killing. However, in the situation where a poisonous snake is about to get away or enter homes or buildings and impossible to grab you need to act fast! (as a last resort) Further, snakes are NOWHERE near as endangered species. Florida is OVERRUN with snakes (for example and are not offered protective status whatsoever). They're extremely successful as a specie with little or non existing natural predictors where they live in the city and decimate indigenous reptile population.

[@DJTHORR..]

Im sorry but the way this guy catches snakes and keep his catches in that cage is alarming and cruel, snake catches here in Australia and other places 'catch and release' back into the wild and the snakes are not harmed. If snakes are found with injuries they are taken to a vet or willdlife hospital to be rehabilitated then released back into the wild.

[@turtle2pond]

If you listened a nature conservatory unit comes to pick up the snakes and release them in national parks. During the rainy season when there are a lot of snakes the cages fills up quicker than usual.

[@MrUranus-]

I did listen he said once in a while the cage gets emptied. how long is once in a while?@@turtle2pond

[@entertainmentnews5355]

y so many down votes

[@shaclo1512]

I LOVE SOUTH AFRICA PETA is mad because they think that animals are more important than human life

[@peterenola2265]

Why do snakes even exist?

[@williamjames212]

I hate snakes with all my heart.

[@loveulez]

Why do you even exist? The snake isn’t a plastic waste producing consumer bloat on the planet

[@avalonblackman263]

This is stupid 😬😬😬

[@AngelGonzalez-tf6zl]

Poor unlucky snakes that live in a country full of souless horrible human beings!

[@turtle2pond]

If you listened a nature conservatory unit comes to pick up the snakes and release them in national parks. During the rainy season when there are a lot of snakes the cages fills up quicker than usual.

[@jozefabereszczycka7710]

Removing reptilians - that would be a scoop 👽👽😀