A reptile expert has been called in by concerned councillors to ensure there are has not been an explosion of snake nests in a new residential area, north of Muharraq.
The move follows the posting of a video of a snake apparently sliding its way around Diyar Al Muharraq which has gone viral in recent days.
Council vice-chairman and Muharraq Governorate constituency five (Galali, Diyar Al Muharraq, Amwaj Islands and Dilmunia Island) councillor Saleh Buhazaa told the GDN that members did not want to spread panic.
“We have launched an investigation to validate if the snake was actually found in Diyar Al Muharraq following the viral video and we are listening to testimonies from residents,” said Mr Buhazaa.
“If it is confirmed, then with the help of experts from the concerned ministries and government departments, we will look into the matter to identify the species and decide whether the area needs to be swept for snake nests.”
He added that the reptile could have been brought to the kingdom by someone as a pet. “It appears small and could have been easily been smuggled into Bahrain before it escaped and found a hideout,” added Mr Buhazaa. “We’re open to all possibilities.”
The most common snake found in Bahrain is the rat snake, which isn’t venomous. They pose no threat to humans, and as their name implies, rats are one of their favourite foods that they kill by constriction.
There have been several reports of snake sightings in the past and the GDN reported how residents were urged not to panic after an increasing number were discovered in private gardens across Bahrain.
Many residents mistakenly believe snakes do not naturally exist in the kingdom and were shocked and scared when they came across them, an Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve spokesman said.
The issue came to light after a GDN reader forwarded a picture of a snake, which she found in her compound in Saar.
It was later confirmed as a harmless rat snake. “These type of snakes are mostly seen in farms, gardens and in the desert,” the spokesman said.
“Everyone, including Bahrainis and foreigners, has an impression that Bahrain has no snakes and when they see the creatures anywhere, they panic and fear that they will harm them.
“We urge the public not to panic.”
He said rat snakes were often seen during the early summer when they come out on warm days to soak up the heat of the sun.
Bahraini farmer Yousif Yaqoob, who works in Hamad Town, told the GDN that he came across snakes on a daily basis as part of his job. “But these are not dangerous and when they see a human, they are scared,” he said.
Back in Muharraq, the likely rat snake may be doing the council a favour as the authority has approved an urgent proposal for immediate government action to rid residential areas of the plague of rodents.
Rats have been spotted in and around old Muharraq areas, close to protected derelict properties whose owners cannot demolish because they fall on or around Unesco’s World Heritage Site, the Bahrain Pearling Path.
The council’s technical committee chairman Mohammed Al Mahmood said yesterday residents have confirmed the snake to be in their area.
They think the slippery serpent may have been looking to feast on the fat rats with his family and friends.
“It is not like we don’t have snakes in Bahrain, but are they in large numbers or more than the legion of rodents that many residential areas are plagued with?” asked Mr Al Mahmood.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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