Despite several encounters with these venomous snakes, the 25-year-old is undeterred, returning time and again to Kampung Tersusun Teluk Memali here to hunt for Asian swamp eels (scientific name “Monopterus javanensis”).

In fact, Amirul – who has been wading through the swampy area for over 10 years – has become accustomed to these reptiles entering the eel traps he has placed there, not to mention those slithering through the undergrowth.

“At first, I was scared because snakes often got into the traps but, over time, I got used to it. I just have to be more careful, whether wading through the mud or lifting the traps, because one wrong move can prove fatal,” he said when met by Bernama recently.

Amirul said this activity serves as a lucrative source of income, especially from August to February when the eel population increases significantly.

“I make my own traps using 1m-long PVC pipes. Currently, I have 50 units, which I set up every day at around 7pm. I return to check the traps at 8am to see the catch,” he said.

Amirul can earn between RM50 and RM200 per day, depending on the catch.

“One reason I enjoy this activity is because of the high demand for eels and the relatively good market price, which is RM18-RM20 per kg.

“Besides that, eel meat is favoured by many people because it is softer and tastier than chicken. Some also eat it because they believe it can help treat asthma.”

Seeing the potential for lucrative returns, the young man aspires to go into eel farming one day.

“My ambition is to have my own eel farm but, for now, I am still in the process of learning about farming techniques,” he said, acknowledging that his ambition would require a large capital investment.

“From what I have learnt, eels take about eight months to mature, so it is not a short process. However, I am confident that if I manage it well, I can produce high-quality eels to meet demand,” he concluded.