‘Realistic toy snake’ gives Chinese family the fright of their lives
Child unpacks box from online toy shop to find something not to be trifled with
A mother in eastern China discovered that a “realistic toy snake” in a pack of toys ordered online was more lifelike than she had bargained on.
The woman first thought the 20cm snake was plastic when her six-year-old son took it out of the packaging in Haining, Zhejiang province, Haining Daily reported late last week.
Marvelling at its soft patterned skin, the woman showed the snake to her husband, remarking on how realistic toys were becoming, the report said.
But the husband looked at the snake’s head and soon worked out that it was real – albeit dead.
Forestry authorities said the animal was a non-venomous Mandarin rat snake and might have slithered into the parcel for warmth.
“I’m glad it was dead,” the woman was quoted as saying. “I dare not imagine what would happen if it weren’t.”
The online toy shop said it had no idea how the snake got into the parcel, but agreed to offer the family a refund, the report said.
