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After long drought, cobra outbreak sweeps Greater Jakarta, Central Java
In the first two weeks of December alone, the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency has handled at least 45 reports of cobra findings in the capital city, while in Bekasi, West Java, officials caught about 50 cobras in 20 separate incidents.
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Ready to attack: A spitting cobra positions itself to spit and strike if necessary. (JP/Ron Lilley)
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everal cities in Java as well as Gowa, South Sulawesi, have recorded more sightings of cobras and other snakes in residential areas after a long dry season this year.
In the first two weeks of December alone, the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency has handled at least 45 reports of cobra findings in the capital city, while in Bekasi, West Java, officials caught about 50 cobras in 20 separate incidents.
The Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Jakarta) met with several reptile enthusiasts and clubs following dozens of reports of cobra sightings and snake attacks in residential areas in Greater Jakarta and other cities around the country.
"We hope to hear input and suggestions from reptile enthusiasts about the phenomenon," head of the BKSDA, Ahmad Munawir, told the press after the meeting.
Ahmad explained that the agency and the ministry had cooperated with the reptile enthusiasts to handle reports from residents and remove the snakes.
"The city has also set up a hotline on 112 for residents who wants to report snake sightings or attacks, we will catch the snakes and release them into their natural habitat," Ahmad said.
He said the ministry and the agency were currently planning to release the snakes that had been caught by the agency and reptile enthusiasts on Mount Salak in Sukabumi, West Java.
