SANDAKAN: A tense situation unfolded at an oil palm plantation near Mile 23 on Saturday, when a large king cobra was discovered inside a toilet block during a routine patrol, sparking immediate concern for the safety of plantation workers.
According to Sandakan Civil Defence Force (APM) Officer Kapten (PA) Sulaiman Salama, his department was alerted to the incident via the MERS NG999 emergency system. The APM team was promptly dispatched to the location to ensure the workers’ safety.
A king cobra measuring approximately 4.5 metres in length and weighing nearly 10 kilogrammes was captured by the APM team using specialised equipment and wearing complete Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The operation was completed without any injuries to workers or rescue personnel. The snake was placed into a specialised bag and released back into its natural habitat.
The operation, which began at 5.50 pm, was concluded by 7.36 pm, and the area was declared safe. The Sandakan APM team then returned to the Sandakan Civil Defence Operations Centre (PKOD) with all personnel and equipment accounted for and in good order. – James Leong
The king cobra caught by Sandakan APM personnel on Saturday.
