tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11378898.post-72040970665444587422007-02-23T21:52:00.000+08:002007-02-23T21:56:42.938+08:00A few of us were out on Wednesday evening at Pasir Ris for Sijie's snake project. Together with Murrati, Helen and Andy, I tottered over a very rocky shore over murky waters to try to catch some special snakes. Unlike the other projects where the aim was just to bag as many snakes as possible, Sijie only wanted snakes that had eaten.<br /><br /><img height="219" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/070222prpd8290m6.jpg" width="432" /><br />It was difficult to watch so many snakes slitter by well within reach and not catch them. We waited patiently for snakes to have their snacks.<br /><br /><img height="274" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/070222prpd8314m6.jpg" width="432" /><br />Of course, JUST as I was trying to get a better footing on the very slippery shore to avoid falling head first into the water, a snake had to splash by with a fish! I fired off a few frantic shots before the snake swam off to a distant wall opposite us. Sigh.<br /><br /><img height="216" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/onwall.jpg" width="440" /><br />Later on, Sijie spotted another snake on the wall with a fish. The clever snakes bring their victims out of the water before trying to swallow them.<br /><br /><img height="288" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/bigfish.jpg" width="441" /><br />And swallowing seems to be a BIG problem. Especially if the fish is many times bigger than your mouth! This snake tried to swallow its catch for half an hour or more before finally giving up. It must be tough not to be able to chew your food. Imagine having to swallow something like an entire steak whole. I now better appreciate my chewing teeth. However, precariously clambering over the super slippery rocks made me envious of the graceful snakes. Sometimes, having legs is not much use.<br /><br /><img height="349" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/070222prpd8350m6.jpg" width="432" /><br />As we approached the end of the study period, we were finally allowed to catch any snake we saw. But the tide was rising fast and snakes were soon out of reach. If the snake has not eaten, Sijie releases it. Sijie shows us how to check a snake without getting bitten or smeared by the snake's 'defensive' gunk...which smells really bad!<br /><br /><img height="291" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/070222prpd8347m6.jpg" width="432" /><br />The team caught three snakes that have eaten! This one had obviously just swallowed a fish.<br /><br /><img height="284" src="http://www.wildsingapore.com.sg/wildfilms/blog/blogfotos/070221prp/070222prpd8352m6.jpg" width="432" /><br />Pasir Ris mangroves were wonderfully alive. The trees thick with crabs, and all kinds of other animals on the mud. But we didn't really have time to explore much. Perhaps another time.riahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210hello@wildsingapore.com