In Tabanan, residents are advised to be especially vigilant: during the peak of the mating season, the number of cobras entering homes and yards has sharply increased. Rescue services and firefighters are reporting a wave of calls.
Wayan Lakshana Kartika, a local snake catcher known as Wayan Cobra, is the most frequently called for help. In August alone, he caught 25 cobras, the largest of which reached 2.25 meters. According to him, this is an annual natural cycle: from August to September, cobras actively seek partners, and in their search, they may approach human dwellings. At other times, they try to avoid contact with people.
Rescue Animal Tabanan staff note that snake catching is risky but extremely important work. Wayan works free of charge and is always fully equipped — with gloves, boots, and special tools. "The main thing is to know the habits of snakes. Otherwise, it can cost you your life," he says.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the forests and plantations familiar to cobras are actively being developed, forcing the snakes to find new shelters — sometimes right in homes. The head of the Tabanan fire department, I Wayan Suakta, confirmed that in August alone, his team responded to more than ten calls related to cobras.
Residents are asked to remain calm and immediately contact the fire department if a snake is spotted in the yard or indoors. Contact details for capturing services are collected in this post — save them in case of an uninvited guest. The main thing is not to try to catch a cobra on your own: its bite can be deadly.
Snake activity is observed not only in Tabanan, so if you walk through unlit areas, it would be wise to light your path with a flashlight. Usually, the mating season for these reptiles takes place in August; however, this year, due to the late rainy season, it began in September and will last approximately until early October.
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