"Anaconda in the Korean Peninsula?"... Giant Python Spotted in Taebaek

Discovered Last Year in Taebaek, Gangwon
Experts "Presumed to Be a Type of Kukreongi"
Thai Snake Also Spotted in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

It was recently revealed that a large snake measuring several meters appeared in Taebaek City, Gangwon Province.

A giant snake discovered near Jangseong Mining Site in Jangseong-dong, Taebaek-si, Gangwon. Experts estimated it to be a type of kukurungi.
[Photo by Online Community Capture]

On the 26th, several online communities posted photos of a giant snake under titles such as "Anaconda in Taebaek?" The photos were reportedly taken last year by a resident passing near Jangseong Mining Site in Jangseong-dong, Taebaek.

The snake in the photo had a long body similar to an anaconda found in the Amazon and was coiled around an entire tree branch. The photographer recalled that the snake was about 8 meters long.

Experts who saw the photos estimated that the snake was a type of kukri snake.

The kukri snake is distributed across Korea, China, and Siberia, and in Korea, it inhabits all regions except Jeju Island. It was designated as a second-class endangered wild species in May 2012 and is protected.

Especially in Gangwon Province, which has many mountainous areas, snakes have been frequently sighted since ancient times. For this reason, Taebaek has many place names related to imugi (a mythical snake-like creature) and dragons, which resemble snakes.

Summer is the season when snakes are actively feeding. According to the Gangwon Fire Headquarters, there were 91 snakebite incidents in 2019, 71 in 2020, and 109 in 2021, with most occurring during the summer.

In the past five years, the number of severe patients transported due to snakebites was 1,573 out of a total of 3,541 patients, accounting for about 44.4%.

To prevent snakebite accidents, when climbing mountains, it is recommended to use a long stick to probe areas with dense weeds or grass to check for snakes. Wearing protective gear such as gloves is also advisable.

A Gangwon Fire official emphasized, "During outdoor activities in summer, avoid entering rarely frequented grassy or vine-covered areas, and if you find a snake, do not try to remove or catch it but report it to 119."

A reticulated python presumed to be from Thailand, found in an export-import container at a factory in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk.
[Photo by Yeongju Fire Station]

Meanwhile, in Yeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province, where there was a commotion over the appearance of a crocodile and a leopard, a reticulated python known to inhabit tropical rainforest regions was captured on the 24th.

The snake was found in an export-import container at a factory. Experts estimated that the snake, originally from a tropical rainforest area, sneaked into the container and entered the country.

The captured snake is estimated to be a juvenile about 1.5 meters long and weighing around 400 grams. When fully grown, it can reach about 5 to 7.5 meters in length and weigh up to 160 kilograms, making it known as the largest snake in the world.