Mamba bite exposes illicit Tokyo snake collection

by Heiky | August 27, 2008 at 02:44 pm

3852 views | 27 Recommendations | 38 comments

Imagine living beside a man who kept 51 venomous snakes in his apartment. Well, that was what a few residents in Tokyo experienced without even knowing it.

A Japanese man lived with 51 venomous snakes in his apartment in central Tokyo. He would have gotten away with it if it weren't for a Mamba bite that requires treatment.

The 41-year-old Tokyo manual labourer was arrested on Wednesday on his release from hospital because keeping dangerous snakes without a local government licence is illegal in Japan, broadcaster NHK said.

The man is 41 years old and is a manual labourer in Tokyo. His collection of snakes include cobras and huge mambas. Last month, he was rushed to the hospital after receiving a deadly bite from an 1.85 metre green mamba during a deeding process. At one point in time, he lost consciousness as a result of the bite.

It seemed like his neightbours really didn't know what's next door.

"Of course I'm shocked. It's revolting," one elderly neighbour told NHK.

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foghornleg90

at 18:44 on August 27th, 2008

Having dangerous creatures carries risks. In the states, special permits are required... to protect the stupid, and those that might be called to help the handler (police, fire, medical staff). There are a number of venomous critters (not just snakes) in peoples possession. The Lion Fish is seldom considered bad or terrible for someone to own, as are the Poison Dart (Arrow) Frogs, which many teenagers have. Most of these creatures live in a contained area, are carried for by an experienced person... and seldom a danger to anyone, but their owner. Personally, I think the proper authorities should know dangerous critters are in a house - and the house should be posted on the front door (CAUTION: Dangerous Animals INSIDE). I think the handler (owner) should also double check where the nearest anti-toxin is at, and have that information readily available in case of emergency. It's simple logic, safety, and respect for others life - health - and safety. Sincerely, Terry (aka foghornleg90)

Tour Guide SOMA@samui

at 18:50 on August 27th, 2008

Tour Guide SOMA@samui has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:19 on August 27th, 2008

Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I have seen that on NHK Yesterday and some of those snakes where beautiful and dangerous as well.

Milieunet

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:39 on August 27th, 2008

Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Animals should be in nature.

Just_Sandeep

at 21:47 on August 27th, 2008

Imagine how people play with small kids with toothless and non-venom snakes.

Scary and Crazy for me :)

Just_Sandeep has contributed a photo to this story.

sreeji..

at 22:37 on August 27th, 2008

sreeji.. has contributed a photo to this story.

FredrikBillgren

at 23:12 on August 27th, 2008

When i encounter snakes.... atleast when they are venomous like a green mambai want a big glass window between me and the snake, Not at a neighbour Zoo.

FredrikBillgren has contributed a photo to this story.

juliehoaas

at 23:24 on August 27th, 2008

Yikes. That's quite the collection! What if one suddenly got away and snuck into the neighbour's apartment? Imagine waking up one morning, going to grab a cup of coffee, and what do you know, a little surprise for you on the counter...

Mdelahunt

at 01:45 on August 28th, 2008

Black Mamba - Hartebeespoort Animal and Snake Park

Mdelahunt has contributed a photo to this story.

bqw

at 02:43 on August 28th, 2008

Black mamba -- not the nicest of snakes -- kills quick, moves fast, and bites repeatedly.

bqw has contributed a photo to this story.

nana_cindy42

at 03:16 on August 28th, 2008

Scary story! I would be horrified to learn I was living next to something like that. Snakes fascinate me but only in the zoo and behind glass!!!

Serves the guy right for getting bit. I suppose that's cruel for me to say, but gee, it's really stupid to have such a collection.

Great story, though. Glad it was exposed!!!

vdesarkar

at 03:23 on August 28th, 2008

Snakes are beautiful creature and belong to nature, not in an apartment. The man should be penalised and there should be laws to protect wildlife. My picture that is invited has no relevance to the story but I like to think that God ran out of designs and made this plant look like a cobra just for fun! But here is a python shot from Bharatpur http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiangypsy/346621114/in/set-72157594461012914/

vdesarkar has contributed a photo to this story.

Color Lover

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 03:22 on August 28th, 2008

Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Its a good story. People shouldnt live with blinders on. Be aware of your neighbors and thier goings on. Im not saying you should be a nosey parker and be all up in thier business. but for sure be looking out for unusual behavior that could potentialy be harmful to yourself or your family.

JeDi58

at 03:28 on August 28th, 2008

thats a lot of snakes!!

serpentor (not verified)

at 04:10 on August 28th, 2008

I like snakes alot but its not smart to keep them all in an apartment. What if one got into a heating duct. Maybe one did.

PPK_Jeff

at 04:45 on August 28th, 2008

My picture is of a Black Mamba in captivity at The Serpentarium, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.

PPK_Jeff has contributed a photo to this story.

xnisse

at 05:15 on August 28th, 2008

KIng Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah

xnisse has contributed a photo to this story.

v.marshall45

at 05:20 on August 28th, 2008

I am a long time member of Woodland Park zoo here is Seattle.One of my favorites at the Zoo is the 14',9year old King Cobra shown here [Head Shot only]. He is immense and awesome. If you see him in all his glory you can understand why people used to worship him as a god.

I cannot imagine the horror of living next to a person who kept 51 venomous snakes in their apt. If even one escaped his abode, the consequences for others could have been deadly.

I love snakes but their place in our world is in what is left of the WILD,not in cages in apts. or even in Zoos. As much as I love Woodland Park Zoo, I believe our goal for these animal beings should be to make the world save enough for them to survive without having to be bred in captivity.

v.marshall45 has contributed a photo to this story.

CJaye

at 05:36 on August 28th, 2008

We had a police officer in Virginia Beach,VA Jimmy Bonavida. He tought our EMT classes on Venomous critters. This man lived in our 1st run area in the Fire Department & Rescue Squad. He kept over 100 venomous snakes, alligators,and non-venomous snakes in his house with him. He's now a Forrest Ranger somewhere and THANK GOD he moved because we had already made a pac if his house caught on fire it would burn. NOBODY was going in. He pulled out a Cobra at one of our trainning classes I thought I'd well I won't say. I got out of there ASAP.

Dirk Lottering

at 06:37 on August 28th, 2008

Shot this picture in Marrakesh February 08 of the Cobra's in the main Djemaa El Fnaa square. Shot at 70mm on F3.2 from about 3 meters away on my Canon gear. The snake charmers play music to keep the attention of the Cobra's and ask a small fee if you want to take photo's of the snakes. I could not believe how many tourist nearly stepped onto the snakes without realising they are there. Not sure if there is a history of incidents regarding snake bites in the square but I kept a safe distance.

Dirk Lottering has contributed a photo to this story.

eltiodecharlotte

at 07:29 on August 28th, 2008

These beautiful fast-moving snakes are highly venomous, but less aggressive than black mambas. Mambas are elapids, with short front fangs and the venom is primarily neurotoxic. Digestion of prey is also aided by the venom.

eltiodecharlotte has contributed a photo to this story.

syahrizal_yusuf

at 07:36 on August 28th, 2008

King Cobra of Bali

syahrizal_yusuf has contributed a photo to this story.

eowyn1012

at 09:28 on August 28th, 2008

This photo was taken at a snake show in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The show basically consisted of men dancing around trying to catch venomous snakes, including these two cobras. The English narration was a constant repetition of "if it bites you, you must go to the hospital." The dancing men were the only thing standing between the audience and the snakes, and several times the cobras came quite close to the audience's feet. I had my picture taken with a python around my neck, and in the few short seconds it was around my neck, I felt it starting to squeeze--hard. (Shortly after the picture was taken, the python bit the handler.)

Golfhunter

at 13:00 on August 28th, 2008

The black Mamba was the star of the movie called "Venon" .It's a real black Mamba which has been used for the need of the film .Impressive

neal366

at 14:56 on August 28th, 2008

Love the article. Seems like it would be something that would happen here in the states.

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RobinSQ

at 18:45 on August 28th, 2008

I know nothing about the Tokyo snake collection story, but the story that goes with this snake is that is crawled out of the sea and onto a large liveaboard dive boat. Sea crates are rather shy and unaggressive. They look for food hiding in the coral reef and would only bite people if harassed. They are facsinating to watch when in their natural habitat - the sea - and this one needed to be gently prodded back in by one of the crew who had experience dealing with such snakes. Bad idea to try to keep such a wild creature as a pet!

RobinSQ has contributed a photo to this story.

daveblakemore

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:08 on August 29th, 2008

Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.

shibboleth_12_6

at 07:07 on August 29th, 2008

A Cobra on Zanzibar. It's the size that most surprises - this specimen was around 10' long - they can get to 17'.

shibboleth_12_6 has contributed a photo to this story.

mapassqadri

at 07:49 on August 29th, 2008

A King Cobra at the Bronx Zoo, NY

A sign read: "Do not tap on glass. What would you do if it broke?"

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adithyakalyan

at 08:45 on September 1st, 2008

Cobras are common in Indian forests. This is to your display of a snake in shimoga forests in karnataka. It is caught by the local snake charmer and it already bit his his assistant while trying to put her in a bag. This is one of the sharpest and the most poisonous snake to be found in India whose bite would kill the person in less than an hour. This is being displayed by one of the snake expert to be careful to find such snakes on our way to the trek in Kodachadri (Karnataka's second highest peak).

adithyakalyan has contributed a photo to this story.