Emergency responders in Demak, Central Java, evacuated 18 baby cobras from a residence in Dukuh Karangturi, Desa Bogosari, on Saturday, July 11. The snakes were discovered nesting beneath a wooden floor after the homeowner reported an initial sighting, prompting a two-hour operation by the local fire department (Damkar) to clear the infestation.
Discovery and Evacuation Process
The incident began when the homeowner found a single cobra inside the house, leading them to contact the Demak Regency Fire Department. Upon arrival, officials identified a hole in the wooden flooring that served as an entry point to a subterranean space. According to Endra Toga Perdana, head of the Linmas division at the Demak Satpol PP Fire Department, the structure of the house—which was not built directly onto the ground—provided an ideal nesting environment for the reptiles.
To force the snakes out, responders poured gasoline into the hole, which resulted in 18 hatchlings emerging from the nest. The evacuation process took two hours to complete. During the operation, one firefighter sustained a bite from a hatchling, though Toga reported the injury was not fatal because the snake did not successfully inject venom.
Did You Know? The evacuation required the use of gasoline to flush the snakes out of a narrow, inaccessible gap beneath the wooden floorboards, a method chosen because the nest was located deep beneath the home’s structure.
Status of the Nest and Ongoing Risks
While 18 hatchlings were successfully captured and transferred to the Karangawen Fire Station, the adult cobra remains at large. Officials were unable to locate the mother during the initial sweep, as the nest structure would have required significant dismantling of the flooring to reach deeper sections.
The fire department has indicated that further action will depend on future reports from the homeowner. If the adult snake is sighted, responders are prepared to return to the property to conduct a follow-up extraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many snakes were removed from the home?
A total of 18 baby cobras were removed during the operation on July 11.
Was the parent snake captured?
No, the adult cobra was not found, and responders stated they would need further reports from the homeowner if it is spotted again.
Were there any injuries during the rescue?
One firefighter was bitten by a hatchling, but the injury was described as non-fatal because no venom was injected.
How should homeowners in areas prone to snake activity secure their flooring to prevent similar infestations?
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