Police said the reptiles were found stacked in plastic containers in the man's apartment following an investigation into unusually high power consumption
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Police discovered 309 pythons in a man’s apartment after investigating unusual electricity use in the area
- The man, Guo, reportedly started breeding snakes in 2014 and converted his home into reptile enclosures
- Three men were sentenced to prison for illegally breeding and selling the pythons, valued at over $4.2 million
A man in eastern China has been sentenced to prison after authorities discovered more than 300 pythons living inside his apartment, according to reports.
The case, which Chinese state broadcaster CCTV recently highlighted, began in March 2024 when an elderly resident in Taizhou, a city in Zhejiang province, spotted a large snake near the base of a local mountain.
According to the South China Morning Post, the man alerted authorities after noticing the reptile, described as a tawny-colored snake as thick as an adult's arm. Investigators suspected the animal had escaped from captivity because pythons are not native to the region, and wild snakes are typically inactive during March.
Police consulted a professional snake breeder, who told investigators that pythons require a consistently warm and humid environment to survive. That information prompted authorities to review electricity consumption records in the area, as they believed a breeder would need significant power to maintain temperatures between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Credit: Getty
Their investigation eventually led them to a man identified by his surname, Guo, who reportedly lived alone.
Authorities also observed another man, identified as Di, frequently visiting the apartment and collecting packages containing white mice that had been purchased online. Sellers told investigators the mice were commonly used as food for pet reptiles, according to the report.
Police later discovered social media posts allegedly showing Guo's snakes and referencing sales. Investigators also uncovered records indicating Di had sold two pythons to another buyer for 1,000 yuan, or about $140.
When officers searched Guo's apartment, they found rooms filled with stacked plastic containers housing snakes. According to the authorities, Guo had converted two bedrooms and the living room into reptile enclosures while keeping his furniture in a single bedroom.
In total, police seized 309 pythons from the apartment and transferred the animals to a local zoo.
Guo reportedly told investigators he had been fascinated by snakes for years and began with four pythons purchased in 2014.
Authorities reported that Guo and Di had sold 80 pythons before their arrests. A third man, identified as Deng, who allegedly sold Guo his first snakes, was also arrested after police found 47 pythons at his home.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
According to the report, the case involved 436 pythons valued at more than 30 million yuan, or roughly $4.2 million. A court in Taizhou sentenced all three men to prison. Details of the sentences were not disclosed.
Pythons are classified as Grade Two protected animals in China, and breeding, transporting, buying, or selling them without official authorization is prohibited.
Read the full article here
