Sun Tak-hei, a 32-year-old snake enthusiast in Hong Kong, has turned his passion into a unique profession. As one of the city’s 11 licensed snake catchers, Sun handles calls about snake sightings, ensuring the reptiles are safely relocated while educating the public about their ecological importance.
His journey began with photographing and observing snakes in the wild, gaining hands-on experience that eventually led him to volunteer at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG). Today, under a government initiative, Sun directly releases captured snakes back into the wild, a system aimed at reducing stress on the animals and promoting ethical practices.
Hong Kong is home to 53 snake species, including 14 venomous ones. Common encounters include the bamboo pit viper, Chinese cobra, and Burmese python, the latter being a protected species requiring special care. Sun explains that late summer and early autumn are peak seasons for snake activity, with cases ranging from urban neighborhoods to remote areas.
Balancing his snake-catching duties with a full-time job as an ambulanceman, Sun remains on-call to respond swiftly. His approach is guided by professionalism and care, using specialized equipment to ensure safety when handling venomous snakes.
Sun emphasizes staying calm when encountering a snake: “Avoid screaming or trying to harm it. Keep a safe distance, take a photo for identification, and call the authorities for assistance.” He hopes to dispel misconceptions about snakes, such as associating venomous species with triangular heads or bright colors.
While public fear of snakes has diminished, Sun occasionally faces distressing scenes, such as a non-venomous rat snake killed with bleach. Such incidents drive his mission to educate people about the importance of coexistence.
Sun’s work extends beyond Hong Kong; he has explored snake species worldwide, including encounters with massive reticulated pythons in Bali. For Sun, handling and observing snakes is both a profession and a source of relaxation.
“I aim to reduce fear and foster understanding,” he says, recounting moments when he engaged citizens in learning about snakes after successful rescues. Despite being bitten by non-venomous snakes, Sun’s careful methods and safety equipment have kept him safe from venomous bites.
Through his work, Sun hopes to inspire greater respect for these often-misunderstood creatures, ensuring their survival and peaceful coexistence with humans.
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