Missing mother found dead inside 16-foot-long python after it swallowed her whole in Indonesia

Missing mother found dead inside 16-foot python in Indonesia, shocking discovery as snake swallows her whole

Woman Found Dead Inside Python in Indonesia: Fifth Fatality Since 2017

 

Kalempang Village, South Sulawesi, Indonesia — In a tragic and horrifying incident, a 45-year-old woman named Farida was found dead inside the belly of a reticulated python. The discovery was made on Friday by her husband and local villagers, marking at least the fifth person to be devoured by a python in Indonesia since 2017.

 

Farida, a mother of four, went missing on Thursday night. Her belongings were found in a forested area, prompting a search by her husband and fellow villagers. They soon came across a five-meter (16-foot) reticulated python with a noticeably large belly. Suspecting the worst, the villagers decided to cut open the snake, where they found Farida's fully clothed body.

 

Village head Suardi Rosi told AFP, "They agreed to cut open the python's stomach. As soon as they did, Farida's head was immediately visible."

 

Graphic videos circulated online, showing the python being cut open and Farida's body being carried away in a blanket, with villagers visibly distressed by the scene.

 

This incident is the latest in a series of similar attacks in Indonesia involving reticulated pythons, which are among the longest and most powerful snakes in the world. These snakes typically prey on mammals such as monkeys and pigs but have occasionally attacked and swallowed humans.

 

Recent Cases Include:

 

- 2022: A woman in Jambi province was killed and swallowed by a python.

- 2018: Wa Tiba, 54, was found inside a seven-meter python in Muna town, Southeast Sulawesi, after disappearing from her vegetable garden.

- 2017: Akbar, a farmer, was found inside a four-meter python in West Sulawesi after going missing at a palm oil plantation.

 

 

Reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) are native to Southern Asia and are known for their ability to constrict and swallow large prey whole. They can grow to lengths exceeding 20 feet, with the longest recorded python being nearly 33 feet long, according to London's Natural History Museum.

 

Despite their fearsome reputation, attacks on humans are rare but not unheard of. The pythons use their sharp, curved teeth to grip their prey before constricting and eventually swallowing them. These snakes are sometimes kept as pets, though they are considered dangerous and have a reputation for aggression.

 

The latest incident has once again highlighted the danger posed by these powerful reptiles in certain parts of Indonesia. Local officials and villagers are left grappling with the shocking nature of the attack, while authorities are likely to review safety measures in areas where these snakes are known to inhabit.

 

Farida's death is a stark reminder of the risks posed by human-wildlife interactions, particularly in regions where large predators are present. The community of Kalempang and the victim's family are now mourning the loss of a loved one under such tragic circumstances.