Escaped toxic snakes pose safety hazard in east China

Workers in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, are searching for around 50 snakelets, which had escaped from a local farm, fearing the venomous reptile will pose a treat to residents.

According to a statement released by Liuhe district Monday evening, over 200 adolescent Monocled cobra escaped from Chunyi livestock farm from August 26 to 29. Some 150 snakes were retrieved or killed, but more than 50 remain at large.

Monocled cobra are highly venomous snakes. The escaped snakelets are about 20 centimeters in length, and their venom is less toxic than mature snakes, the government officials said.

On Oct. 8, a villager from Liuhe district discovered and killed a snake he had found at home. The local government of Liuhe said it was not informed about the escape until Oct. 10 when the villager's discovery alerted the local government.

The district government has transported snake-venom serum from Shanghai, and arranged medical personnel and ambulances in case anyone is bitten.

A search for the snakes in a five kilometers radius of the farm started Tuesday morning. Government employees are disseminating information with residents.

Chunyi livestock farm is on a river bank in the district. It brought Monocled cobra eggs from the southern province of Guangdong on Aug. 6 without official approval. Of the 1,820 hatchlings, 1,500 survived.

The farm has been closed and those in charge will be held responsible for the incident. Endi