Snake catchers of Hong Kong: meet the fearless reptile handlers who are saving snakes from a grisly end in a soup dinner
The professional catchers work with the police to relocate snakes to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden before they are released in the countryside
Hong Kong’s snake catchers are becoming increasingly important for protecting the city’s residents as urban expansion means more snakes are discovered around the region’s homes and businesses.
Today, there are between one and three snake catchers registered with each of Hong Kong’s 23 police districts and they are paid about HK$800 per call out.
Traditionally the practice was carried out by local residents free-of-charge on an ad hoc basic. These original snake catchers (known in Cantonese as ‘Shea Wong’, which roughly translates to ‘Snake King’) still exist, but they no longer kill their prey to be sold to snake shops for soup.
Now they tend to ensure they do minimum harm to their captured snakes. They are often self-taught, but they use a range of equipment to securely trap the animal. A smaller proportion of snake catchers are conservationists, who also work with the police, and have specifically learned their craft to support the snake population.
As awareness of the importance of animal conservation has grown in Hong Kong, there has been a move towards relocating captured snakes. Since 1999, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) has provided a temporary home for about 9,000 snakes captured by snake catchers.