Scammers, obeah men stung by snake charm

Lottery scammers and obeah practitioners in western Jamaica are reportedly buying up snakes, thus sparking a market for their capture, a survey conducted by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has unearthed.

The island has eight species of endemic snakes, with only one, the Jamaican Boa, being protected under the Wild Life Protection Act.

Damanay Calder, environmental officer of Ecosystems Management Branch at NEPA, confirmed to The Gleaner that the agency has received information from persons in Negril and West End that snake collection in those areas has been directly linked to lottery scamming and mysticism.

“Persons would catch and sell to the scammers or the obeah man. We didn't receive any information what they were doing with the snakes, if they were harming the snakes or if it was just possession of the snake as part of whatever the obeah man [instructed],” Calder said.

The assessment, he said, was restricted to the western end of Jamaica.

“I can't say there has been an uptick. We are not being inundated with calls of this person having a snake. You get calls about people finding snakes and about people killing snakes,” the environmental officer said.

“There are instances that we are unaware of where people have snakes and they have them quietly at their house and no one knows and the snakes get out,” he said.

NEPA says it has done surveys on certain communities where there is a high percentage of snake interactions in proximity to forested areas.

Over in east Kingston, some young men have apparently been stung by the charm of serpents. They have three pet snakes whose species has given life to their music production house, Constrictor Records.

A man who gave his name as Richie Constrictor told The Gleaner that he and his companions are determined to protect the reptiles.

“You know, normally most artistes nowadays, dem only recognise or talk about the crocodile. The snakes been left out for a while, so we promoting, not harming, but taking care of the snakes so we can have more of these snakes in Jamaica,” he said.

The boas are a huge attraction in the volatile community and are a common feature for amusement.

Richie Constrictor says he feeds them on eggs, chicks, rats, or mice.

“Most people have it that the snake is a evil thing or a bad thing, but really and truly, the snakes are very nice and charming, loving animals,” he said.

According to him, the snakes are an attraction that complements music from his artistes, Hy-Jah-Flames, a former Rising Stars contestant, and Terror Frassss, whose name has the hissing sound of the serpents.

Calder has cautioned, however, that though the Jamaican Boa is not harmful and no reports of attacks have been made, the Wild Life Protection Act outlaws having them as pets.

“Persons are not allowed to harm, molest, or keep without an exemption permit, and that is where NEPA comes in,” Calder said.

The grounds for exemptions vary, said Calder, but they are typically issued to persons who are engaged in research, education, or rehabilitation.

NEPA is encouraging persons who encounter snakes to leave them alone if they do not pose a danger. “Never heard of someone bitten by snake and going to hospital ... [but] the large snake does have the ability to bite if harassed,” the environment officer said.

Richie Constrictor said he has made contact with NEPA, which told him to apply for a permit.

He said the reptile is a hit among the children in his east Kingston community.

In a demonstration, the snake was handed to a girl.

“I just love pet snakes. So you see, it's all right with the snake. He is all right,” the girl said.

“Mi love him. Mi nuh like him, mi love him. Yes, everybody want tek picture. Pure crowd!” she added.

NEPA also said persons do have other snakes in Jamaica which may have been imported legally.

Those species include mainly the ball python. It doesn't get as large as the Jamaican Boa, which reaches a maximum length of seven feet.