Vietnam: snakes on a train

[John Ashworth]

From The Times, Tuesday, May 31 2011, hard copy edition p 28

Snakes on a train

Venomous king cobras were found in bags under a train seat in Vietnam. A railway official said passengers were terrified by the snakes, which were alive but had their mouths stitched shut. The number is unclear but the four bags weighed 100 lbs (45 kg). They were probably destined for restaurants in Hanoi despite being protected by law. The owner escaped in the chaos and the cobras released into the wild. (AP)