I have to admit that snakes in Bangkok hadn’t crossed my mind at first. It was only later that I realized these creatures, which often scare us, are part of everyday life in Thailand. To be precise, when we visited Kaeng Krachan National Park on the border with Myanmar.

We were out with a friend. His name is Toni; he’s a fantastic jungle guide, an excellent wildlife photographer and one of Thailand’s leading snake experts.

As we walked from our tent to get dinner that evening, he suddenly said, “Stop.” He added dryly, “Take a good look up in the tree.” There’s a real beauty up there.” What we saw was more terrifying than beautiful to us. A venomous green pit viper was hanging motionless in the branches.

Toni said: “Don’t worry, she’ll wait there for hours without moving until she spots prey. And you don’t fit her prey profile.

That taught me a lot, and I still keep it in mind today.

Our fear of snakes is based on a lack of knowledge. We don’t know which ones are venomous and which aren’t. Are they dangerous to us?

Snakes aren’t interested in people. They’re shy and will slither away if they notice us. We usually don’t spot them at all because they’re so well camouflaged. They mostly hunt at night—which is good for them and good for us.

Let’s get down to the facts.

Thailand is home to around 200 species of snake. About 60 of them are venomous. Snakes play an important role in cities, helping to keep the rat population under control, for example. Thais live alongside snakes as a matter of course. When snakes are found, they are often relocated rather than killed.

There is a special snake-catching service that works with the fire department. Bangkok’s emergency hotline receives between 150 and 200 reports of snakes every day. There are more during the rainy season, when the animals have to leave their usual habitats.

So much for the basics.

Do you need to be concerned as a visitor to Bangkok? Stay alert, but don’t be afraid.

There are very few documented incidents of tourists being injured by snakes. Learning more about their behavior, hiding places and habits will hopefully help put your mind at ease.

What do snakes love about large parks?

There are ponds, shrubs, tall grass, trees and damp areas. And sometimes there are quiet spots where hardly anyone goes during the day. Those are exactly the kinds of places many animals like.

So what should you look out for? Above all, watch where you step. Stick to the paths wherever possible. Don’t needlessly walk through dense bushes or tall grass, and never reach into places where you can’t see. This is especially important along canal banks, by quiet ponds or in poorly maintained areas at the edge of the grounds. Animals can be lying there, easily missed at first glance. Take extra care when you’re out early in the morning or in the evening.

Some animals are more active at these times of day. That’s another reason I always watch my step in greener areas. Knowing the species is less important than knowing how to behave.

If you see a snake, stop where you are. Slowly back away. Keep your distance and give the animal a chance to move off on its own. Please do not try to scare it away, poke it with a stick or, worse, take a close-up selfie.

These are exactly the kinds of mistakes that turn an otherwise harmless situation into an unnecessary risk. Just leave the snake alone, and it’ll remain a rare sighting. It may be interesting, but there’s no reason to panic.

By the way, as I said, I like snakes, but I find them almost exclusively in the jungle. In 33 years in Bangkok, I’ve only seen snakes twice: a rat snake and a python. Both quickly made themselves scarce when they spotted me.