Thailand's stealthy self-styled snake wrangler

Thailand's stealthy self-styled snake wrangler

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In the dead of night, Thai firefighter Pinyo Pukpinyo stealthily approaches a python coiled around the rafters of a home in Bangkok, and quickly grabs its head with his bare hands.

"I need to remain steady and calm," says the 50-year-old, as he pulls the fat snake, almost five metres (16 ft) long, off the roof and wrestles it into a rice sack.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
Pukpinyo, known as 'snake wrangler', watches TV at the fire station.

"This snake is very strong. If I make a wrong move, I could get bitten because it has very sharp fangs," he added.

"I don't recommend you do this because it's dangerous."

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
Pukpinyo holds a python he caught at a home.

The family living in the house watch in awe from afar, recording the spectacle on a smartphone.

"I'm really impressed with his skills, how he can catch a snake that long with his bare hands and fit it in such a small bag," said homeowner Janpen Jarudecha, 60, visibly relieved as she emerged from hiding.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
A python is seen at the fire station in Bangkok.

Many homes in the Thai capital are visited by snakes, which live in underground canals and enter gardens or toilets during the rainy season in search of food.

In 2018, disaster prevention officials said they received 37,000 reports of home intrusions by snakes around Bangkok.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
Snake catching equipment is displayed at the fire station.

Bangkok firefighters spend more time catching snakes than putting out fires, with more than 100 snake encroachments a day in recent months, compared to just one or two fires, data from the city's fire and rescue department shows.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
Pukpinyo with pythons, some of which were caught by him.

A self-styled 'snake wrangler', Pukpinyo has caught about 10,000 snakes during the 16 years he has performed this dangerous task. The fire station in northeast Bangkok where he works gets more than 3,000 telephone calls a year seeking help with snakes.

Pukpinyo says he traps up to 800 snakes each year, about 70% non-venomous pythons, while the rest are cobras and other venomous snakes. The venomous reptiles are taken to a specialist institute that extracts snake venom to make an antidote.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
Pukpinyo cleans a snake cage at the fire station.

In his free time at the fire station, Pukpinyo cares for the captured snakes, taking king cobras out of their cages to feed them. He also runs classes on how to handle snakes safely.

As a firefighter, Pukpinyo says he often grapples with loss, but his snake-catching talent gives him solace.

"This job makes me feel like I'm a superhero," he said. "I'm taking care of people who are in danger and in need of help, which makes me happy."

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Slideshow

Pukpinyo drives his car to catch a snake.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo drives his car to catch a snake.

A woman holds a cobra snake which she caught at her home as the rescue team arrives.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

A woman holds a cobra snake which she caught at her home as the rescue team arrives.

Pukpinyo catches a small python at a home.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo catches a small python at a home.

Pukpinyo removes a plastic ring from a python he caught.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo removes a plastic ring from a python he caught.

Pukpinyo applies iodine after catching a python wounded by a plastic ring.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo applies iodine after catching a python wounded by a plastic ring.

White-lipped pit viper snake is seen on a wall of a house.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

White-lipped pit viper snake is seen on a wall of a house.

Pukpinyo ties a bag with a python inside after catching it.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo ties a bag with a python inside after catching it.

Pukpinyo talks to a house owner as he washes his hands after catching a snake at her house.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo talks to a house owner as he washes his hands after catching a snake at her house.

Pukpinyo walks to his car after he caught a snake at a home.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo walks to his car after he caught a snake at a home.

Twin sisters react as Pukpinyo shows a small python which he caught at their home.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Twin sisters react as Pukpinyo shows a small python which he caught at their home.

Pukpinyo sits inside a store as he waits for emergency calls from the fire station.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo sits inside a store as he waits for emergency calls from the fire station.

A snake lies in a cage at the fire station.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

A snake lies in a cage at the fire station.

Pukpinyo washes snakes.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo washes snakes.

Pukpinyo shows a photograph of his thumb bitten by a king cobra.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo shows a photograph of his thumb bitten by a king cobra.

Pukpinyo known as 'snake wrangler', shows a kukri snake which he caught.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo known as 'snake wrangler', shows a kukri snake which he caught.

Pukpinyo shows a cobra snake which he caught.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo shows a cobra snake which he caught.

Pukpinyo shows a copperhead rat snake which he caught, at a fire station.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo shows a copperhead rat snake which he caught, at a fire station.

Pukpinyo shows an ornate gliding snake which he caught, at a fire station.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo shows an ornate gliding snake which he caught, at a fire station.

Pukpinyo shows a bungarus fasciatus snake which he caught.
. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Pukpinyo shows a bungarus fasciatus snake which he caught.