Encounters with Cobras and other snakes in the residential areas of Greater Jakarta have seen an increased recently as per various reports. Reports of such encounters have made it to the news across the country which has also increased the public concern and fear over encountering the venomous snakes.
In the first half of December alone, at least 45 reports of snake encounters and cobra findings were filed with Jakarta Fire and Rescue department.
At least 50 venomous snakes including King Cobra were captured by The Indonesia Sioux Snake Foundation in the last three months in 15 different residential areas in Greater Jakarta according to Media Reports.
Hatchlings of Cobras have seemed to be on the top of the list of the findings, some of them were even found in the open spaces. A mother Cobra was found with 30 eggs in Tabanan Bali in a residential area.
While some of the Cobras were reported lurking inside the toilets of the houses including the areas of West Jakarta.
Why do snakes appear?
Amir Hamidy, a famous reptile researcher of the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) stated that this is a normal occurrence since Cobras eggs hatch during the rainy season.
It was also predicted that first or second week of December will see the start of the rainy season and will peak during February and March 2020 by The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) .
“The beginning of the rainy season is when the snake eggs hatch. This is a normal situation and a natural cycle,” he said recently as quoted by kompas.com.
How to prevent snakes from appearing
Due to recent increase in the possibility of snakes being found in their Homes, people have grown cautious. Following tips were shared by Bekasi Fire and Rescue Agency team member Eko Uban on how you can prevent Cobras and other snakes from entering the house.
“First, the main and most important step is to keep your environment clean. Please get rid of any unused stuff that is piling up at the corners of your house,” he said, adding that snakes tend to hide in such places.
He also recommend that people who have enough place to plant something in their houses, they should plant lemon grass as it is believed to be an effective snake repellent.
Those who can't plant can use soaps, cleaning agents with high smell of lemon grass to clean their houses.
“Snakes hate the smell,” he said. “Do not believe that snakes hate salt; it’s only a myth.”
What to do in case of snakebite
If you have been unlucky enough to get bitten by a snake, first and most important thing is to keep yourself calm and in control. Hold your wound at a lower position from your heart so that the venom is prevented from moving quickly through the bloodstream.
West Java Health Agency head Berli Hamdani Gelung Sakti further suggested that snakes bite should always be treated as an emergency by everyone and seek medical help from the nearest health center immediately and should obtain antivenom.
“The health agency has the responsibility to take care of snakebite victims,” he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
West Java Health Agency has distributed antivenom serum to health agencies in regencies and municipalities throughout the province in the light of increase in the snake sightings.
Where to get antivenom in Jakarta?
10 hospitals throughout the capital have the serum for cobra bites said by Indra Setiawan Head of East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency.
The hospitals are Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and Tarakan Hospital in Central Jakarta, Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital and Sulianti Saroso Hospital in North Jakarta.
You can also find the antivenom at Fatmawati Hospital, Suyoto Hospital, Pasar Minggu Hospital and Jati Padang Hospital in South Jakarta.
In West Jakarta you can find the serum at Mitra Keluarga Kalideres Hospital and Cengkareng Hospital.
“The health agency is procuring more of the serum. On [Wednesday], the city administration will hold another meeting to follow up on the case and we will discuss strategies to anticipate further [cobra] findings,” he said on Tuesday.
In Satellite cities Hospitals of Jakarta also have the serum. You can find it at Depok Hospital and Hasanah Graha Afiah General Hospital in Depok, Bekasi Hospital in Bekasi and South Tangerang Hospital in South Tangerang.