Flooding in Guangxi, China's top snake-breeding hub, has led to hundreds of snakes escaping, disrupting supply chains for traditional medicine and leather. At least 900 snakes remain loose.
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Severe flooding in China's Guangxi region has triggered an unusual disruption to one of the world's largest reptile-breeding industries, with hundreds of snakes escaping from submerged farms, Bloomberg reported, citing state media. At least 900 snakes, including venomous cobras, remain at large across villages and farmland.
Guangxi is China's largest commercial snake-breeding centre, with around 30 million snakes bred each year for traditional Chinese medicine, leather and meat. The industry has grown from small backyard operations into hundreds of businesses involved in breeding, processing and research, according to Guangxi Daily. The floods have submerged several farms, allowing the reptiles to break free.
The flooding also hit pig farming and timber production, and damaged a zoo in Guigang, where more than 100 animals escaped, including two zebras and 30 peacocks. The zoo asked residents to help locate the missing animals.
Authorities set up temporary medical clinics to provide rapid treatment for snakebite victims. A woman in Hengzhou died after being bitten by a snake, with her hospital trip delayed by floodwaters. A man bitten while cleaning his flood-damaged home also faced delays.
The snake farming sector supplies traditional Chinese medicine and leather markets, both of which face potential supply disruptions. The industry's concentration in Guangxi means sustained flooding could tighten availability of snake-derived products, though the full impact is unclear.
The floods follow weeks of heavy rain across southern China. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
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