Mamba bite exposes illicit Tokyo snake collection

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese man living with 51 venomous snakes, including cobras and huge mambas, in his apartment in central Tokyo was caught when he called an ambulance after one of them bit him.

The 41-year-old Tokyo manual labourer was arrested on Wednesday on his release from hospital because keeping dangerous snakes without a local government licence is illegal in Japan, broadcaster NHK said.

He was rushed to hospital last month after being bitten by a deadly 1.85-metre green mamba as he was trying to feed it, and at one point lost consciousness as a result of the bite.

"Of course I'm shocked. It's revolting," one elderly neighbour told NHK.

(Reporting by Isabel Reynolds; editing by Sophie Hardach)