Hit film sparks online sales of snake, safety concerns

A highly venomous snake resembling a new character from the animated hit Zootopia 2 is being widely sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms, sparking alarm among consumer safety advocates and legal experts. The surge in sales of the island bamboo pit viper has raised serious public safety risks and the potential for legal repercussions for platforms, vendors and buyers.

The issue was first reported earlier this month by The Paper after a concerned consumer surnamed Wang found multiple listings for the island bamboo pit viper on the secondhand platform Xianyu. Prices ranged from about 300 to 3,000 yuan ($42.5 to $425), with sellers explicitly marketing the snakes as "Gary's same-style little blue snake".

Recognizing the species as highly venomous, Wang attempted to report the listings to Xianyu, arguing that live dangerous animals should not be sold on general consumer platforms. The platform rejected his report due to "insufficient evidence".

On platforms including Douyin and Xiaohongshu, sellers are using coded hashtags such as "Guard a piece of blue", "Poisonous snake", and "Island blue bamboo", along with suggestive videos, to evade content moderation and attract buyers seeking the Zootopia 2-inspired reptile.

Vendors contacted by ThePaper.cn quoted prices ranging from several hundred to more than 2,000 yuan and said inquiries had climbed sharply since the film's premiere. One seller advised prospective buyers, including beginners, to purchase specialized tools such as snake hooks, bite-proof gloves and long tweezers because of the viper's aggressive nature and toxicity.

A China Daily search on Thursday found only a small number of visible vendors, but one active Xianyu listing illustrated the trend. Priced at 1,688 yuan with free shipping, it advertised a female "Gary Snake" — explicitly named after the film character — described as alert, brightly colored and in good health. The post had 68 views and interest from two potential buyers. Marketed to collectors and researchers, the seller offered delivery or self-pickup and encouraged inquiries before purchase.

The island bamboo pit viper presents a regulatory gap. As a nonnative species, it is not listed on China's key protected wildlife lists. But a notice from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration classifies it among wildlife prohibited from consumption and states that keeping such animals for nonedible purposes such as research requires strict official approval — a requirement evidently bypassed in these online sales.

In response to an inquiry from China Daily, Xianyu's customer service said the platform prohibits the sale of live animals, including the island bamboo pit viper, under its existing rules.

This marks a shift from its response earlier this week to other media, when it said that although protected animals are banned, the island bamboo pit viper "does not fall under the category of a protected animal" and is therefore "not forcibly prohibited from sale" under its policies.

Legal experts say the online trade of the island bamboo pit viper already violates Chinese postal regulations banning the mailing of live animals and toxic articles.

Liu Ruini, a senior partner at Shaanxi Bingrui Law Firm, said all parties — platforms, sellers and logistics providers — face significant legal exposure. She said e-commerce platforms, as intermediaries, are obligated to verify seller qualifications and ensure the legality of animal sources. Failure in this supervision could result in civil liability, particularly if their services enable illegal transactions.

Sellers of legally tradable but dangerous animals also bear a high duty of care. "Due to the snake's highly dangerous nature, the seller must provide explicit warnings," Liu said. She warned that sellers risk administrative penalties or even criminal liability if the animal is used to inflict harm. Logistics firms, she added, have an equal duty to enforce strict safety protocols, including careful inspection and specialized packaging for transport.

She urged consumers to prioritize real-world risks over cinematic appeal. "We cannot simply turn anything fictionalized from films into a pet. Greater consideration must be given to the potential consequences and harm," she said.

Gan Yuanchun, a senior partner at Hunan King Zone Lawyer Office, said that if a captive snake escapes and causes serious injury or death, the owner could face criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter or negligent infliction of serious bodily harm, in addition to civil liability.

More gravely, the deliberate release of a venomous snake in a public area could result in prosecution for endangering public safety. Gan further noted that merely keeping such animals can constitute a disturbance under public security regulations, which may lead to an initial warning and, if ignored — or if the animal is used to intimidate others — fines of up to 500 yuan.