Man found dead with snake bites at farm

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USHIKU, Japan, April 16 (UPI) -- Police in Japan said a man was found dead at a pet breeding farm with numerous bites believed to have come from a non-venomous python.

Police in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, said Shoji Fujita, 66, was found on the ground at the breeding farm, which is run by his son, around 11 p.m. Saturday with a 21-foot python out of its cage nearby, The Japan Times reported Monday.

Investigators said Fujita, who was pronounced dead at a local hospital, went to the farm around 10:30 p.m. to check on the temperatures in the enclosures for the various animals kept at the facility. They said it is not known how the snake's cage was opened.

Police said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death for Fujita, who sustained numerous bites from the non-venomous snake.