Wu Jianfeng, the groom, hugs his bride Jiang Xue while carrying a python at their wedding ceremony in Jilin City, Jilin Province, Sept. 16, 2016.(Photo/IC)
(ECNS) -- Huge pythons used as wedding gifts by a newlywed couple in the northern Chinese city of Jilin have been confiscated and sent to a wild animal rescue center, local media reported.
At their wedding ceremony on Sept. 16, bride Jiang Xue gave a 15-kg female Burmese python to groom Wu Jianfeng, who in turn gave her a 30-kg male Burmese python.
Pictures of the novel marriage gifts went viral on the Internet, also catching the attention of local forestry police.
Reports say the couple are animal rights activists and bred many rare species at home, including spiders, lizards, pythons and birds. They have often rescued wounded animals.
The couple found the snakes, set free in a mercy release, on a mountain on May 14 last year and then took them back home, treating one that was injured and feeding them ever since.
Wu said he thought the snakes meant something special to his marriage, so they were used as wedding gifts.
Local police told Wu that the Burmese python is not allowed to be raised at home according to law. The two snakes were moved from Wu's home to a wild animal rescue center.
Wu, not dampened by separation from the love symbol, said he would continue to help protect wild animals in accordance with the law.
