Parks act to minimize snake activity

A number of parks in Shenzhen have implemented measures to repel snakes and ensure the safety of visitors following increasing reports of snake encounters and attacks in Shenzhen and other parts of southern China, including a recent fatal incident in Hainan Province.

The Lianhua Hill Park Management Office has taken proactive steps by spraying repellent sulfur powder in areas with dense shrubs. It has also placed warning signs at mountain hiking trail entrances to alert visitors to the potential presence of snakes.

The Shenzhen Park Service Center has also coordinated with other parks to clear and trim weeds, reducing potential snake hiding spots.

A park staff member sprays repellent sulfur powder in shrub-dense areas at Lianhua Hill Park. CCTV2

To further protect themselves, parkgoers should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover exposed skin. They are also advised to avoid venturing deep into brushland or climbing trees. Additionally, carrying a stick to rustle grass while passing through thick vegetation can help scare snakes away and reduce encounter risks.

Warmer, more humid weather since May has ushered in the peak season for snake activity. Snakes tend to seek shelter in shady spots, such as under trees or within bushes. Some might even enter apartments or vehicles to escape the heat.

From May 1 to May 22, the Shenzhen Emergency Medical Center treated nine patients for snakebites, six bitten by bamboo pit vipers. Most incidents occurred in the afternoon or evening.

In a tragic case, a 27-year-old woman died in Sanya, Hainan Province, after being bitten by what experts believe was a banded krait shortly after midnight June 2.

Signs warning visitors of potential snakes at mountain trail entrances in Lianhua Hill Park in Futian. CCTV2

According to snake experts, banded kraits have neurotoxic venom. Their bites are particularly dangerous since the window for successful administration of antivenom is extremely short. 

The initial bite may feel like a simple needle prick with minimal local symptoms, leading victims to underestimate its severity. Immediate medical intervention at facilities stocked with antivenom is essential.

Zhang Liang, a snake expert at the Animal Research Institute of the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, noted that victims typically experience symptoms such as lower limb numbness, breathing difficulties, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.

Official statistics show that Guangdong Province is home to 93 snake species, among which 33 are venomous. The most common include bamboo pit vipers, many-banded kraits, cobras, king cobras, and Chinese pit vipers.