Saudi masters ‘art’ of crossbreeding pythons at home
His passion saves snakes from being sold to the fashion industry for their skin
Saudi Faisal Malaikah’s love for non-venomous snakes has evolved from having just one when he was five to crossbreeding dozens to produce ‘live art’ in unique colours and patterns.
In the garden of his palace in Jeddah, the 35-year-old businessman has a sign on the wall in green block letters that reads: ‘THE SNAKE ROOM’. “There are people who collect precious stones or classic cars or paintings; as for me, I like to collect live art,” the father of three said, referring to his collection of more than 100 reticulated pythons — the world’s longest snake — from southeast Asia.
“They are popular in the fashion industry, where their skin is used to make bags, shoes and belts, but one out of every 1,000 snakes hunted is one with a rare colour.
“The hunters sell the unique-coloured snakes to collectors like myself... and I crossbreed to produce rare genetic mutations with patterns and colours unseen before,” he said, pointing at a gold and grey-dotted white snake wrapped around his left arm.
The hunters sell the unique-coloured snakes to collectors like myself... and I crossbreed to produce rare genetic mutations with patterns and colours unseen before.”
‘I love snakes alive’
Malaikah said he had no interest in selling to fashion brands. “I value life, so I love [the snakes] alive and not as bags or shoes,” he said.
In the well-airconditioned room, the pythons slither around in large glass-encased boxes, with holes just big enough for them to flick their tongues out. Working alongside Malaikah is his friend, 32-year-old Ebrahim Al Sharif, who said Malaikah had spared no expense, bringing in specialists from the US to learn more about crossbreeding and mutations.
In one of the enclosures is a six-metre (20-foot) long white python with golden markings. The eight-year-old snake weighs 100 kilograms and moves with great effort.
“The snakes I have are unlike any in the world or very rare, some worth $100,000,” said Malaikah. But he said most of his snakes are worth between $200 and $20,000 each.
Faisal Malaikah | Saudi businessman