An American man was found dead in his home, surrounded by dozens of snakes. Most of them are venomous snakes.
Neighbors warned police after going to a house in Maryland, USA, and discovering that he was lying on the floor and apparently unconscious.
When police arrived, they found 124 venomous and non-venomous snakes, including pythons, cobras, and rattlesnakes.
The largest was said to be the 14-foot Burmese python.
They were in the aquarium, but an animal management expert was called in.
An unnamed 49-year-old man was sentenced to death on the scene. The cause of death has not yet been identified, but police say there is no evidence of “cheating.” A post-mortem examination will be done.
The nearby Charles County Animal Care Center is coordinating rescue operations to move reptiles back home with the help of North Carolina and Virginia experts.
A spokesman for the center told the BBC: “All snakes have been placed in an out-of-state organization with the appropriate authority, permission, and / or license.”
She added that some of the animals would probably be adopted personally by an approved handler.
It is illegal to own a toxic snake in Maryland.