Flooding in Southern China drives hundreds of snakes from breeding farms into communities

Severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Maysak has devastated southern China, killing 39 people and releasing hundreds of snakes, including venomous cobras, from inundated breeding farms in Hengzhou. One woman died from a snakebite after flooded roads delayed medical care. While civilian teams have captured thousands of reptiles, authorities are boosting antivenom stocks and warning residents to avoid high-risk areas. The floods also inundated the Guigang Zoo, drowning three lions and freeing exotic animals.

Hengzhou snake farm flooding

• ▪Heavy rainfall from Typhoon Maysak flooded snake breeding farms in Hengzhou, China, releasing hundreds of snakes into local communities
• ▪Around 900 snakes, including venomous cobras and non-venomous common rat snakes, escaped into the floodwaters of Hengzhou

Typhoon Maysak casualties

• ▪One woman died in Hengzhou after being bitten by an escaped snake, and several other residents have received medical treatment for snakebites
• ▪The partial collapse of a reservoir dam in Hengzhou sent torrents of water into the city, claiming 26 lives
• ▪Widespread flooding caused by Tropical Storm Maysak has resulted in 39 deaths in China, with 26 of those fatalities occurring in Hengzhou

Snake-catching operations

• ▪Chinese authorities deployed specialized teams to capture the escaped snakes and established temporary medical clinics to treat bite victims
• ▪A civilian snake-catching team of seven or eight people captured between 2,000 and 3,000 snakes, primarily rat snakes, over two days in Hengzhou

Guangxi snake breeding industry

• ▪By 2020, the Guangxi region was home to almost 20 million snakes across more than 14,000 breeding farms, serving pharmaceutical and biomedical applications
• ▪Hengzhou and the broader Guangxi region have a long-standing tradition of catching snakes for food, with local residents viewing snake meat as nourishing

Zoo animal escapes

• ▪Three lions drowned at the Guigang Zoo as staff worked to lock down predator cages to prevent them from escaping during the flood
• ▪More than 100 animals went missing from the privately owned Guigang Zoo, including two zebras, four porcupines, and dozens of tropical birds
• ▪Over 16,000 pigs were washed away by the floodwaters in the region, prompting the use of heavy machinery to retrieve them

Public safety warnings

• ▪The local government issued guidelines advising residents to avoid nighttime outdoor activities and stay away from grass and ponds where snakes seek shelter
• ▪Hospitals in Hengzhou boosted their antivenom serum stocks and prepared medical staff for a potential influx of snakebite cases