Top snake catcher faces a problem
The gist
Bangkok snake catcher Pinyo Pukpinyo holds 200-plus snakes, at least 70 cobras, and is running out of containers.
His no-kill rule collides with a city that catches about 30,000 snakes a year.
How it unfolded
- Nov 1, 2026A New York Times Global Profile reports that Pinyo refuses to kill the snakes he catches and is running out of containers.
- Nov 2, 2026The Seattle Times carries the profile, reporting his relocated Bang Khen fire station holds more than 200 snakes, possibly 300, including at least 70 cobras.
- recentlyPinyo says feeding the snakes costs about $300 a month out of his own pocket, and every few months he drives out of Bangkok to release them in a national park or forest.