Kagoshima: Officers receive Habu training in repelling snakes; Receive tips to find and catch them

AMAMI, Kagoshima – New police officers assigned to the Amami Police Station in Kagoshima Prefecture took part in a training session to learn how to deal with venomous habu snakes. The snake inhabits five of the Amami Islands, including the islands of Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, and Kakeromajima.

Last year, 37 people were bitten by snakes, resulting in injuries. In response to requests to capture the snakes, Amami police dispatched officers a total of 20 times.

On April 1, a training session was held with 29 officers at a tourist center in Amami. Eiryu Motoyama from the center explained habu snake biology and how to catch them.

Motoyama told the officers: “Habu are often sighted on nights of light rain, where the temperature is between 22 and 26 C” and “if you hit them on the head with a stick, they will get a concussion. But stay alert even if they stop moving, because they can suddenly attack.”

After the information session, the officers received instructions on how to catch and repel the snakes, with a demonstration that also included a live snake.

“I like to respond calmly to requests to catch snakes,” said officer Rika Usukubo, 19, who took part in the training on how to fend off a habu with a bamboo stick.