2-year-old girl bitten by snake outside Asian Civilisations Museum, NParks says it’s likely not venomous

Girl rushed to hospital after being bitten by snake outside Asian Civilisations Museum

A family’s vacation in Singapore was marred when a two-year-old girl was bitten by a snake outside the Asian Civilisations Museum.

In a post on XiaoHongShu, the girl’s mother said her child was rushed to the hospital in pain and crying.

Family walking outside museum at night, didn’t disturb wildlife, says parent

The incident took place at about 10pm on Sunday (4 Oct) night, when the family was walking “normally” around the area outside the museum.

The ground surface was flat, with not many people around.

The family also did not disturb any wildlife, said the parent in the now-deleted post.

Girl bitten ‘hard’ by snake outside museum

However, without any warning, the girl’s ankle was suddenly bitten “hard” by a snake.

The wound quickly became red and swollen, prompting her to start crying because of the pain.

“Seeing her like this, we truly really felt heartbroken and terrified,” the parent said.

They immediately called 995 to send her to the hospital.

Girl was conveyed to KKH

In response to queries from MS News, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at about 10.25pm on 4 Oct.

It came from 1 Empress Place — the address of the Asian Civilisations Museum.

One person was conveyed to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

Girl under observation in hospital

Speaking to China’s Xiaoxiang Morning Herald on Monday (5 Oct), the mother, identified only as a Chinese woman named Ms Li, said the girl was currently under observation in the hospital.

The family is paying for her medical expenses out of their own pocket, she added.

Once the girl was safe, they called the National Parks Board (NParks) to alert them about the snake so they could catch it.

Mother warns parents to stay alert in the area

Ms Li said her friend, who has lived in Singapore for 20 years, told her that she had never seen a snake at that location.

She emphasised that the family had stayed on the paved path the whole time and did not trample on the grass or touch any wildlife.

In her post, she warned parents to stay alert and pay attention to their surroundings.

This is especially when visiting the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Singapore River bank area at night, which is an area frequented by tourists and the public, she noted.

Snake not found after NParks survey

NParks group director of wildlife management How Choon Beng, responding to queries from 8world News, confirmed that it was alerted to the incident.

The agency immediately conducted a survey of the area but did not find a snake.

It will continue to monitor the area and relocate snakes if any are sighted.

Snake likely non-venomous

Based on photos of the reptile, it is likely to be a reticulated python, which is native to Singapore, Mr How said.

The non-venomous species is sometimes encountered in urban areas and is generally of little threat to humans, especially if they are not disturbed.

Members of the public who encounter a snake are advised to observe from a safe distance, stay calm, and back away slowly — and do not attempt to handle it. Pets should also be kept on a leash.

Snakes should be left alone, especially if they are in their natural habitat, he noted.

If bitten, they should seek medical attention immediately.

For assistance, they may call NParks’ Animal Response Centre helpline at 1800-476-1600.

Also read: Snake falls ‘from the sky’ & lands near man’s feet at Robinson Road pedestrian crossing

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Featured image adapted from Xiaoxiang Morning Herald on Weibo and biu个bu on XiaoHongShu.