Dispelling Serpent Stereotypes in the Year of the Snake

TaiwanPlus News

2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. TaiwanPlus went out to spend some time with the cold-blooded critters to explore their world and gain a deeper understanding of the often misunderstood serpent.

Transcript

00:00Hi Phillip, 新年快乐!

00:02Hi, Happy New Year!

00:03Can you explain why you're holding a snake?

00:05Well, I thought about bringing this little fella around with me

00:08because it's the year of the snake.

00:10Well, you're in luck because actually I was born in the year of the snake.

00:13But I don't really understand much about the Chinese Zodiac.

00:16Let me tell you more about it.

00:18The snake is one of the twelve creatures in the Chinese Zodiac.

00:22Since they're cold-blooded, people born in this year

00:25are sometimes seen as being more reserved or introverted.

00:28But it's also believed they carry a lot of passion on the inside

00:32and can be ambitious, adventurous and sensitive.

00:36Can you explain a bit what snakes mean in Taiwanese culture?

00:39Well, I know someone who can tell you.

00:45So we're going to meet Professor Du, who is an expert with snakes.

00:51Hello, Professor Du!

00:54Professor Du Mingzhang has been studying reptiles for over 40 years.

00:58He says that in Taiwan, snakes traditionally have a pretty good reputation.

01:03Rice farmers see one species as the son of local guardian spirits

01:07and won't hurt these snakes.

01:09And the Taiwan indigenous people, similarly,

01:12keep a respectful distance from the venomous 100-paced snake,

01:15which they see as their ancestor.

01:18But Professor Du says humans in general have extreme reactions to snakes.

01:49According to Professor Du,

01:51people's feelings towards snakes have a complicated origin.

01:54He says experiments using baby humans and monkeys

01:57show they don't fear snakes the first time they see them.

02:19But the professor says there's more to snakes,

02:22and some of them make good pets.

02:48Snakes are actually very gentle.

02:50Because they're gentle and don't get nervous,

02:55they don't rush around,

02:57that's why they develop into pet snakes.

03:01So it seems snakes are really misunderstood in the world,

03:04and here in Taiwan as well.

03:06Well, I know a place where people can get to know them more.

03:08Let's go!

03:19Oh my god!

03:21Look at it, it's huge!

03:23It's moving now.

03:26Professor Du runs this snake cafe that he opened in 2023.

03:30He rotates the snakes between the cafe and a farm

03:33so they have time to rest and feed.

03:35There are about 30 in this room alone.

03:38Du wants people to come and get up close and personal with the snakes.

03:48Once you get used to them,

03:50you won't be able to imagine the mistakes they make.

03:54But the undisputed star of the cafe is a Burmese python

03:57Professor Du adopted seven years ago.

04:00If you touch it, it'll get stuck.

04:02It's too fat, right?

04:04It was this big when I first came.

04:06It was two meters long.

04:07It's this big now after seven years.

04:09It's 4.8 meters long and 75 kilograms.

04:13Professor Du does not let customers pet this snake,

04:16but not because it's dangerous.

04:18He says Burmese pythons are also calm and docile.

04:30Spending the day with Professor Du,

04:32Sandy and I learned a lot about snakes,

04:34but I needed more.

04:36Okay, so today you've taken me to a snake farm.

04:39Now we're here at this snake cafe,

04:41but these are both places run by professionals.

04:44So what is it like owning a snake as a pet?

04:47Does this mean you need more snakes?

04:49Yes, always.

04:50While you're in luck,

04:51I have a few friends who are holding a snake year festival.

05:05These owners have gathered with their cuddly cold-blooded pets

05:09to celebrate the coming snake year.

05:11This is our family's pet.

05:13It's called Gluttony.

05:14It's quite a good snake.

05:16It lets people touch it and play with it.

05:19You can just touch it.

05:21I think it's quite important to me.

05:23It's my treasure.

05:25But I have other smaller snakes.

05:27This is the biggest one.

05:29Around the Lunar New Year,

05:30people often buy pets on that year

05:32because they say they can bring them good luck.

05:34So can we expect more people to buy snakes in the new year?

05:38But snake breeder Ryan Wu says

05:40snakes can be easier to keep than more traditional pets

05:44because they don't need walks and they don't make noise.

05:47But keeping a pet is not easy.

05:49It's a lifelong commitment to their well-being.

05:51These misunderstood animals are more than just a good luck charm

05:54in the year of the snake.

05:56Patrick Chen, Chris Ma, Phillip Rosado, and Sunny Chi

05:58for Taiwan Plus.

06:07Taiwan Plus

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