53 king cobras in car?! Vietnam man caught illegally transporting snakes.
53 king cobras in car: Vietnamese police say that they have arrested a man transporting 53 king cobras, considered a delicacy by some, in his car.
Snake charmer Faizal Ahmad kisses a King Cobra during a snake show at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur in 2010.
Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters
Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnamese police say they have seized 53 king cobras from a car in Hanoi and arrested the driver.
Officer Dang Van Hanh said Monday the live snakes were taken to a wildlife rescue center near the capital where they treated before being released into the wild.
King cobras are the world's longest venomous snake, and grow up to 5.5 meters (18) feet.
The meat of the king cobras is considered a delicacy by some in Vietnam, where hunting and trading the snakes is banned. The snakes are also sometimes preserved in traditional medicines.
The snakes, which were kept in green sacks, were seized Friday.
Hanh said the car driver told officers he was paid to transport them. Local media reported he was paid under $50.