He’s the Top Snake Catcher, and Business Is Booming. There’s Just One Problem.

November 1, 2026 - 03:33

Bangkok's firefighters spend more time removing snakes from homes and businesses than they do fighting fires, according to Pinyo Pukpinyo, the city's leading snake catcher who trains emergency crews for the task. The volume of calls has turned snake removal into a booming operation, but Pinyo faces a persistent problem: he refuses to kill the snakes he captures, and he is running out of containers to hold them.

Pinyo has built a reputation as the top snake catcher in the Thai capital, where rapid urban expansion has pushed reptiles into residential areas. His training program prepares firefighters to handle dangerous species safely, emphasizing capture over elimination. The approach has won him respect, but it has also created a logistical headache. Each rescued snake needs a secure enclosure, and the supply of suitable containers has not kept pace with the number of animals coming in.

The situation highlights a broader tension in Bangkok, where wildlife encounters are becoming routine. Pinyo's stance against killing the snakes sets him apart from those who see elimination as the simplest solution. For now, he continues his work while searching for ways to expand his holding capacity, even as calls for his team's services keep rising.