CHONBURI — 18 June 2026, Emergency responders in Pattaya were called to capture what appeared to be a cobra in a condominium car park, only to discover it was a rubber toy snake.
The Pattaya City Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre received a request for assistance after a resident reported what appeared to be a cobra in the parking area of a condominium in Central Pattaya, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district.
Firefighters and rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene, where they found what appeared to be a cobra with its hood spread and head raised in a defensive posture.
Because the area was poorly lit, officers prepared snake-catching equipment and approached with caution. However, after illuminating the area and moving closer, they noticed the snake was completely motionless.
A closer inspection confirmed that the reptile was not real but a rubber toy snake, prompting relief and laughter from both the emergency responders and the resident who reported it.
Kanthicha Sakubon, 36, said she was about to get into her car when she spotted the apparent cobra in the car park.
“I was shocked when I saw it with its hood spread,” she said. “I was worried someone might get hurt, so I asked the security guard to contact the authorities.”
She said she felt relieved after learning it was not a real snake.
Officials believe the rubber snake may have fallen from one of the condominium units, where residents sometimes use such items to scare away birds from roofs and balconies.
The toy snake was removed and destroyed to prevent further confusion.
