Borneo Dispatches #61: Boiga jaspidea "Black Velvet"
Posted: December 5th, 2012, 5:36 am
"The jasper cat snake (Boiga jaspidea) is a small and slender species of rear-fanged colubrid that is uncommon throughout its range" (Wikipedia).
Uncommon or not, sometimes it just takes a little luck. Just last Sunday the staff at Sarawak's most exclusive golf resort - a place where Malaysia's president keeps his own personal bungalow - gave me this beautiful juvenile they had found in the kitchen of their five-star restaurant. We visit the place quite often, not for golfing, but for hikes through the beautiful montane (3500 ft) cloud forest that surrounds the resort. Instead of killing the snake on the spot, the cooks caught it - completely ignorant of its possible toxicity - put it in a jar, and waited for my return from the trail. Yes, it is good to have a reputation as "Mr. Hans, the Snake King" (their words, not mine). AND they have a promotion on standard double rooms this month!
As to the photo session, I've always wanted to photograph a snake species that forms a double "S" with its anterior body. In spite of the large number of Boiga from various species I've caught here, none of them would ever pose that way for me...until this one came along. Straight out of the bag, it assumed the position and defended its honor with wild and far-reaching strikes that ruled out any proper macro work. But who needs macros if you get warrior poses like these?
Uncommon or not, sometimes it just takes a little luck. Just last Sunday the staff at Sarawak's most exclusive golf resort - a place where Malaysia's president keeps his own personal bungalow - gave me this beautiful juvenile they had found in the kitchen of their five-star restaurant. We visit the place quite often, not for golfing, but for hikes through the beautiful montane (3500 ft) cloud forest that surrounds the resort. Instead of killing the snake on the spot, the cooks caught it - completely ignorant of its possible toxicity - put it in a jar, and waited for my return from the trail. Yes, it is good to have a reputation as "Mr. Hans, the Snake King" (their words, not mine). AND they have a promotion on standard double rooms this month!
As to the photo session, I've always wanted to photograph a snake species that forms a double "S" with its anterior body. In spite of the large number of Boiga from various species I've caught here, none of them would ever pose that way for me...until this one came along. Straight out of the bag, it assumed the position and defended its honor with wild and far-reaching strikes that ruled out any proper macro work. But who needs macros if you get warrior poses like these?