Flooding Releases Hundreds of Snakes into Streets of Hengzhou

Overview

• Severe floods that damaged a regional reservoir inundated a commercial snake-breeding farm in Hengzhou and allowed roughly 900 snakes to escape into flooded urban areas.
• Footage shared on social media shows dozens of snakes floating and crawling through streets while residents and rescue teams work to capture the animals.
• The escaped population includes mostly aquatic, non-venomous species alongside highly venomous snakes such as najas, kraits and pit vipers kept at the farm.
• Local authorities and hospitals have mobilized rescue crews and increased antivenom supplies, and at least one person is receiving treatment for a snakebite while a reported fatality remains unverified.
• The outbreak of escaped animals adds to storm damage in Guangxi and raises risks for residents by dispersing captive wildlife used for medicine, food and venom production into populated neighborhoods.