A Burmese python has gone viral online after it was spotted along a busy road in a Hong Kong shopping district on Sunday evening. One expert said that heavy rain over recent weeks may have forced wild animals into urban areas.
The snake was caught on camera by a passing jogger near Causeway Bay’s Jardine Noonday Gun at around 11pm that day.
In the clip, the reptile, which appears to be about two to three metres long, can be seen slithering across a section of pavement along Victoria Park Road, near the historic site.
The social media post garnered nearly 5,300 likes and about 850 comments by 9pm on Monday.
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, a wildlife conservation centre, identified the snake as a Burmese python, noting its geometric patterns and its distinct shades of light and dark brown, black and white.
Victor Wong Long-yin, head of concern group Cheung Chau Animal Care’s education department, said the recent heavy rain could have flooded the snake’s natural habitat and forced it to seek another one.
“When it rains, its habitat may become flooded, so it may leave and try to find a new one. That would not be unusual,” he said.
Wong added that the rain could drive rats and other small mammals out of hiding, prompting snakes to follow the scent of prey.
Hong Kong experienced intense wet weather in recent weeks, recording more rainfall than usual last month.
Wong said it was not unusual for wild animals to appear in urban locations in Hong Kong, as the boundary between the inner city and the countryside was often blurred.
“You can take one step and be in woodland, and another step already be on a road,” he said, adding that wild animals could not distinguish between urban and natural areas in the same way as people.
He said the timing of the sighting of the snake at night was also consistent with pythons’ nocturnal feeding habits.
Police said they received a call at around 11.30pm on Sunday from a woman who reported seeing a snake, described as about two metres long, near the Jardine Noonday Gun.
Officers searched the area but found no trace of the animal. No further action has been taken at this stage.
According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Burmese pythons are non-venomous and are the only species of snake to be protected under Hong Kong’s Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.
Wong advised the public to keep their distance if they encounter a snake outdoors and simply allow it to move away on its own.
A specialist in emergency medicine, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said anyone bitten by a snake should call an ambulance, move to a safe place and remain still while waiting for help.
“After a snakebite, you must remain calm. If the snake is venomous, panicking and moving around can accelerate blood and lymphatic circulation, potentially causing the venom to spread more quickly,” he said.
The doctor added that a splint, if available, could be used to immobilise the affected limb.
He warned against attempts to suck out the venom or cut the wound to induce bleeding, saying both methods were ineffective.
The specialist said taking a photograph of the snake, if it could be done from a safe distance, could help medical staff identify the species and administer the right treatment.
He added that the Hong Kong Poison Control Centre, operated by the Hospital Authority, maintained a database for identifying snake species and had antivenom that could be sent to public hospitals when required.
