The snake man of Bangladesh

Bare hands, a level head and hope for the future help the king of the snake catchers keep body and soul together


























Matthew Bennett


Mohammad Shafikul Islam is no ordinary Bangladeshi villager. He's the king of the snake catchers.

For centuries his family and the members of his clan, of which he is the official leader, have been catching snakes in homes in nearby villages and cities using just their bare hands.

Now, 46-year-old Mohammad is using his skills to stage shows at top hotels for tourists and officials, and rents his snakes out to film studios and theater groups.

King cobras cost around US$10 and the smaller snakes around US$5 each. He charges up to US$500 for his snake-charming shows.

Renowned as a master of his craft, he?s in high demand.
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