When the man unloaded his car in a parking lot at his flat, he suddenly realized that the snake had disappeared. After a futile search, he eventually contacted the police, the Japanese television channel NHK reported.
Police in Kurashiki, located about 680 kilometers from Tokyo in western Okayama prefecture, have called on residents to be more vigilant. Pythons are not venomous, but kill their prey by wrapping themselves around them. They generally feed on warm-blooded animals, such as birds and mammals.
Exotic animals of all kinds are highly sought after by Japanese collectors. The king python’s owner kept the animal in a glass terrarium in his home. According to NHK, no special permit is required for this.