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Panic over snakes' free China coach trip

Xinhua, June 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

When passengers on a coach in central China discovered they had been sitting on boxes of toads, snakes and rats, they screamed their lungs out and took to their heels.

This week, police in Badong County, Hubei Province, intercepted six boxes of rats, ten boxes of toads and 15 boxes of snakes weighing around 350 kg on a coach.

The animals, some of which were identified as wild caught, were neatly placed in containers in the luggage compartment, according to police.

The many of the 53 passengers, apparently terrified by the discovery, ran away from the coach, police said. The coach had travelled more than 200 km before the mini menagerie was discovered.

Transportation of living animals in China must been approved by transportation and animal quarantine authorities. The driver failed to show any certificates allowing transport the animals, police said.

Further investigation is underway. Endi