Sssso ‘beautiful’: Unexpected hitchhiker tags along on family’s car ride
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Video footage shows the snake perched on the windscreen of the car before slithering towards the side-view mirror.
PHOTO: KENNY YAP/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE - A family’s car ride took an interesting turn when a snake decided to hitch a ride, appearing on the car’s bonnet and windscreen, before slithering over to the side-view mirror on the driver’s side.
The unexpected encounter was captured in a video shared by user Kenny Yap on Dec 22 on Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings, which has over 119,000 members. Online viewers reacted with a mix of awe and alarm.
The video footage shows the snake perched on the windscreen of the moving car before slithering towards the side-view mirror on the driver’s side when the vehicle stops moving.
In the video, the family in the car can be heard reacting to the unexpected hitchhiker. A male voice marvels at the reptile, calling it “such a beautiful snake” in Mandarin, while a woman remarks that the snake appears very long. A child, sounding shocked and frightened, repeatedly tells the snake to “go away”.
Several commenters on the Facebook post suggested the snake might be a paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi), a species commonly found in Singapore.
Known for its striking green-and-black patterned body, the paradise tree snake is mildly venomous but harmless to humans. It is an agile climber that feeds on small prey such as lizards, birds and bats. According to the National Parks Board’s website, it is also capable of gliding between trees by flattening its body and propelling itself through the air.
The post sparked a discussion among netizens, with some using the opportunity to share facts about the snake.
Some netizens also flexed their funny bone – user Kustini Ek said: “He want(s) to tumpang (Malay for hitch a ride), drive to (the) nearest jungle” while another user, Eileen Esther, referenced the upcoming Chinese New Year: “Snake year is coming!”
According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Dragon will make way for the Year of the Snake on Jan 29, 2025.
Many netizens also wondered about the snake’s fate. Further down in the comments section of the post, user Kenny Yap shows a video of the snake on the ground, in response to user Fel Mic’s advice to “stop nearby if possible and try to save this little guy”.
The Straits Times has contacted the person who posted the video for more information.
This sighting comes after a couple of other recent snake encounters across Singapore. A 4m-long reticulated python was spotted near Paya Lebar Square mall
On Dec 6, another python was spotted in Eunos after it had regurgitated a cat.
Two days later, on Dec 8, a python was rescued from a Jurong West Housing Board flat
On its website, animal welfare group Acres advises the public to remain calm when encountering a snake,
If the snake is outside the vehicle, as in this case, drivers are encouraged to park safely, stay inside, and allow the snake to move away on its own. For assistance with removing a snake, members of the public can contact Acres’ Wildlife Rescue Hotline on 9783-7782.
