MALAYSIA: Malaysian snake charmer kisses king cobra 51 times for world record attempt.

Record ID: 665422

  • Title: MALAYSIA: Malaysian snake charmer kisses king cobra 51 times for world record attempt.
  • Date: 19th March 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) SHAHIMI ABDUL HAMID SAYING: "With 51 times (kisses) in 3 minutes, I feel it's enough, not necessary for me to continue for 10 minutes."
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Malaysia
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVABHXZ47SQ17APF1B4V6YW3E3J1
  • Story Text: Malaysian Shahimi Abdul Hamid planted 51 kisses in 3 minutes and one
    second on the face of a reluctant 15-foot long venomous king cobra to claim a
    new world cobra kissing record on Saturday (March 18).
    The 33-year-old reptile expert from the northern Malaysian state of
    Perlis thrilled hundreds of holiday makers at the Genting Highland Casino
    Resort, who had waited patiently for more than 2 hours for the short but life
    threatening performance.
    It was an over-achievement of sort for Shahimi whose original plan was
    to kiss the newly caught wild cobra 15 times in 10 minutes without any
    protective gear to overtake the record of 11 kisses by American snake handler
    Gordon Cates in September 1999.
    "With 51 times (kisses) in 3 minutes, I feel it's enough, not
    necessary for me to continue on for 10 minutes," an elated Shahimi told
    Reuters Television after collecting a mock certificate from the Malaysian
    Deputy Minister of youth and sports Liow Tiong Lai.
    He hoped that his achievement would spur Malaysian interests in Asian
    reptiles especially the deadly king cobra and spread awareness of the
    importance of nature conservation.
    Meanwhile, the hapless king cobra whose pride and modesty was somewhat
    violated by being bussed so many times, was later squeezed of its venom to the
    last drop to prove the feat was not a fluke or a scam.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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