The death of a python, one of the largest ever to be caught in Penang, is most regrettable. It is rare indeed for a snake to live up to that size and length and the loss of a wildlife heritage of this size should raise serious concerns.

Snakes are some of the most persecuted of all due to unfounded fears and myths. Snakes have a hard enough time trying to survive in a world of decreasing habitat and food source, roadkills, pesticides and also killed by people who fear them. The reticulated python has been declining in the wild due to hunting for its meat and gall bladders, which are used in traditional medicines.

Just because a creature is frightening it does not mean it is not valuable to the ecological system. The public should realise that killing what they are afraid of is not the answer.

Snakes can prove beneficial in reducing certain types of vermin, but many people are either ignorant or indifferent to the importance of these reptiles to the ecosystem.

What they do not need is deliberate killing by man whose dominance and control over all creatures led to the destruction of our fellow wild creatures.

There are no definite answers to the unfortunate death of this gigantic reptile but Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is horrified at the way construction workers handled the snake as some ‘cowboy celebrity stunt’, posing with their catch stretched to the fullest over the shoulders of the workers. What are these workers trying to impress upon the public? To show their might and brute strength in subduing a reptile of that size?

Next to handle the snake were members from the Civil Defence Corp who came with their ‘hangman’s’ noose to place it around its neck and even had its mouth taped. Then came the team’s obsession with photography and video shots holding and stretching the reptile over the team’s shoulder for the photo prop. What’s worse, one team member was even seen kicking the snake.

Their very action is neither one of bravery or heroism. It is stupidity coupled with indifference and total lack of animal welfare concerns and care.

After all the ordeal faced by the snake it is time for public viewing where the curious crowd came in droves to gawk and pet at the snake which has never come into contact with human all his life.

The stress coupled with the mishandling will be too traumatic for the creature to bear. Experts warned that snake should not be subjected to rough handling even though they are large, robust animals as they can bruise easily and suffer injury, such as broken ribs.

The snake should be supported when picking it up and not to keep the entire snake or large portions of the body in a vertical position as it can result in gravitational pooling of the blood. It should not even be jerked around or dropped.

What is mind-boggling is why it took so long for the Penang Wildlife Department to take the snake into its custody? The department should have taken the snake under its care instead of leaving it to the curious crowd who make it worse for the reptile with all the noise which can be traumatic for a wild captive snake.

It is high time that wildlife be treated with due respect and caught wildlife should be handed to the appropriate authority rather than leaving into the hands of those without wildlife knowledge.

SM MOHAMED IDRIS is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).