South Cotabato's 11-foot long snake attacks man, snake dies

BANGA, South Cotabato -- A farmer in a remote village here has survived and overpowered an 11-foot long Diamond snake Tuesday morning, police said.Gabriel Mulana, a farmer of Barangay El Nonok, Banga, South Cotabato, brought the snake to the police to send a message to those gathering or collectingspiders the dangers in the bush.Mulana told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida that he was clearing the bushes in his farm at about 11 a.m. when he heard someone was whistling on him. I heard ssssssh sounds and when I turn around, I saw a long snake as if standing and starring at him, Mulana said.Instinct dictated Mulana to run for his life toward a small riverbut the snake chased him as if flying. I grabbed a wood and repeatedly hit the snake which appeared to be a little bit weak because it has huge stomach, Mulana recalled. He suspected the Diamond snake had just feasted on a chicken or another snake and has turned its eyes on him. It wanted to eat me too, I suspect, he said, catching his breath.The snake was still alive and moving though its head has been shattered when Mulana arrived at the town police office with his defeated enemy. A police officer sliced the snake's stomach where a dead three foot long Iguana, locally known as Bayawak, was retrieved. sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14264104_1051648511608624_6998401421206285911_n.jpg?oh=cff3fbb958ae55b32f17826d84603b06:ampoe=587AD6FF sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14333015_1051648508275291_6166892070560530703_n.jpg?oh=0a82c5ff59bedc01df2d05bc00cfdc39andampoe=58846153 (People gather around a fallen Diamond snake with is victim, an Iguana or locally known as bayawak at the Banga police station compound - photo by Emily Daban )