Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 has boosted China’s winter box office, but its popularity has also sparked an unexpected trend. A new character, Gary De’Snake, a gentle, optimistic and selfless pit viper, has captured audiences’ hearts, particularly in China.
Fans’ affection for the character quickly translated into real-world behavior. According to Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper, sales of blue Indonesian pit vipers, which resemble Gary, surged on secondhand and e-commerce platforms including Xianyu, RedNote and Douyin. Prices reportedly ranged from 300 to 3,000 yuan (US$43 to US$429).
Experts have warned that the blue Indonesian pit viper is highly venomous, and its bite can cause severe pain, swelling and tissue damage.
Because the species is non-native to China but not listed in either the country’s key protected wildlife catalog or as an invasive species, regulating online sales has proven difficult. Legal experts said the trend has exposed gaps in public safety awareness as well as loopholes in platform oversight, logistics and regulation.
They also noted that China’s postal regulations prohibit the delivery of live animals and toxic items, rendering many of these transactions illegal despite their continued appearance online.
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