A number of pythons have been found living in Bijia Mountain Park in Futian District, Shenzhen city, the park's management office confirmed at the weekend.

Several visitors called to say they had seen pythons in a cave several days ago.

Lai, head of the park's public security force, said there were seven or eight pythons of varying sizes in the park, the longest more than 10 meters. Lai said several years ago he had seen one of the reptiles lying on the road and estimated it to have been at least 10 meters long.

Zhuang Aidi, an animal expert with the city's wildlife protection station, said dense vegetation on the mountain was an ideal habitat for pythons.

The expert Saturday showed reporters the cave where the pythons were seen.

Lai said the management office had never heard reports of pythons attacking visitors in the past and said visitors should be safe since the pythons were active in an area, which was difficult to access.

Zhuang advised the office to keep the location of the cave from the public.

He said pythons had an acute sense of smell and would be unlikely to encounter people as they would flee if they sensed any sign of trouble. He said the safest thing for people to do if they came across a python was to walk away quietly without disturbing it.

Li Jing

Editor: Catherine