Two 2-Meter Pythons Escape From Kawasaki Apartment on August 13

Two pet pythons, each roughly 2 meters long, escaped from an apartment in Kawasaki’s Tama Ward early on August 13 after the cage door was left unlocked and a screen door was found slightly open. A 19-year-old male resident discovered the snakes missing around 2 a.m. and reported the escape to police at approximately 5 a.m. Police and firefighters have been searching the surrounding residential area and warning residents to exercise caution.

How the pythons escaped

The 19-year-old owner kept the two Albert’s pythons in a cage on the third floor of an apartment building in Sugabanba, Tama Ward. The cage had a sliding door that was not locked. A screen door on the balcony side of the apartment was found slightly open, about 10 centimeters. The owner last confirmed the snakes were in the cage around 9 p.m. on August 12, but when he woke around 2 a.m. on August 13, both were gone. He searched his home for three hours before calling police.

What makes these snakes dangerous

Both snakes are Albert’s pythons, nearly black in color and roughly as thick as a 500-milliliter plastic bottle. They are nonvenomous but have aggressive temperaments. According to Tsuyoshi Shirawa, director of the iZoo reptile zoo, many individuals have aggressive dispositions and will reflexively bite if someone extends a hand or approaches. The snakes sense temperature and react instinctively to perceived threats.

Where authorities believe the snakes are hiding

The apartment building sits in a quiet residential neighborhood about 20 minutes’ walk from JR Inadazutsumi Station. Dense trees and woods back the building, creating dark, secluded areas with little foot traffic. Shirawa noted that the snakes likely have not traveled far and may have entered narrow spaces such as air conditioning units inside homes. He emphasized that snakes hide in unexpected places and urged residents to search thoroughly. Five years ago, a 3.5-meter reticulated python escaped in Yokohama and was later found in an apartment building’s attic.

Community response and safety warnings

Residents expressed fear about the escaped snakes. One neighbor said the escape was frightening and criticized the owner for failing to secure the animals properly, stating that anyone keeping such pets has a responsibility to manage them safely. Another resident said their spouse refused to leave the house. Police and firefighters have been searching the area since morning and are urging all residents to exercise caution and report any sightings immediately.

Final Thoughts

The two escaped pythons remain at large in a Kawasaki residential area as of August 13. Residents are advised to stay alert and report any sightings to police. Experts believe the snakes have not traveled far and may be hiding in nearby structures or dense vegetation.

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