His job is to go into the wild and find slithery snakes – and he loves it

Muhammad Ariff Khaidhir (right) with a pleased-as-punch client bravely holding an unusually docile red-headed krait. — Photo provided by MUHAMMAD ARIFF KHAIDHIR CHEK MAT

MANY of Muhammad Ariff Khaidhir Chek Mat’s clients come from as far as Europe, travelling thousands of kilometres to Malaysia just to take up his tour packages in the hopes of seeing snakes.

Snake tours – or “herping” – on which enthusiasts trudge along jungle trails and through muddy swamps to seek out and take photos of reptiles and amphibians are gaining ground in Malaysia.