[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] A Chinese man who illegally raised more than 300 pythons inside an apartment has been sentenced to prison.
According to a case recently reported by China Central Television (CCTV), a man surnamed Guo, who lived in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, was brought to trial and given a prison sentence for breeding, raising, and selling pythons without government permission. A man identified as D, who was involved in the python trade, and Deng, the original seller, were also sentenced to prison. Their specific terms were not disclosed.
The case began in March 2024, when an elderly man found a yellow-brown python as thick as an adult forearm below a hill in Taizhou and reported it to police.
Because the species does not live locally and the discovery came outside the snakes' active season, police concluded that the animal had likely escaped from captivity.
During the investigation, experts explained that pythons must be kept year-round at temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, along with high humidity, in order to survive.
Police then examined electricity usage in nearby areas. After tracking households with unusually high power consumption, they identified Guo, who lived alone, as a strong suspect.
Investigators also found that D, who frequently visited Guo's home, repeatedly picked up parcels containing white mice from a delivery storage facility. Police believed the mice were being used as feed. The investigation also revealed that Guo had posted photos of pythons on Social Networking Service (SNS) and written posts suggesting they were for sale.
Police were shocked by what they found during the search. Plastic boxes were stacked throughout the bedroom and living room, and each one contained pythons. Investigators determined that Guo had moved his furniture into one room and used the remaining space as a snake breeding facility. Police seized 309 pythons at the scene and transferred them to a zoo.
During questioning, Guo reportedly said, "I bought four pythons in 2014 and have been studying breeding techniques ever since." He also stated, "I could produce snakes of different colors, and it felt as if I had become a creator."
Further investigation confirmed that Guo and D had sold 80 pythons so far. Police also found 47 pythons at Deng's residence, where Guo had originally bought his first snakes.
Authorities said the total number of pythons identified in the case reached 436, with an estimated value of more than 30 million Chinese yuan, or about 6.8 billion won. In China, pythons are designated as National Class II Protected Wildlife, and breeding or trading them without permission can lead to criminal punishment.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
