The 'World's Longest' Snake Dies A Mysterious Death In Malaysia
“Snakes don’t just drop dead. If they die there is a reason.”
By Tang Ruxyn — 13 Apr 2016, 11:30 AM
The world had its eyes on Malaysia when the Civil Defence Department (JPAM) caught a giant python thought to be the longest ever recorded, last Thursday, 7 April
The estimated eight-metre-long (26ft) snake was spotted Thursday, 7 April, under a fallen tree on the island of Penang.
The Malaysian snake, a reticulated python, has not been officially measured by record keepers.
Herme Herisyam, operations chief for Penang's Civil Defence Department's said it weighed 250kg and took 30 minutes to rescue.
Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as the python died a premature death a couple of days ago
The python reportedly died while laying an egg.
BBC quoted a civil defence official as saying that the snake had laid one egg, before going "quiet".
According to Muhammad Aizat, the snake's capture and the attention it received likely compounded the stress of laying eggs.
The snake's body was handed over to the wildlife department while the egg was said to be transferred to an unspecified location.
The sudden death of the Malaysian python which came just three days after it was found, led to concerns that the reptile may have been mishandled.
According to a video that was first uploaded by local English daily, The Star, a man was seen kicking the python.
However, a public defence officer at Malaysia's Civil Defence Force reportedly said that the python "died on her own".
“Maybe she committed suicide. Maybe she felt threatened so she killed herself,” he said, adding he was not certain this was the reason for its demise.
theguardian.com
Meanwhile, Australian snake expert stressed that, "Snakes don’t just drop dead. If they die there is a reason".
Raymond Hoser, who gave reticulated pythons their scientific name, has refuted claims that the python might have killed itself.
He added that the python likely died due to internal injuries.
“The most likely reason is injuries sustained when caught or after being caught. Snakes are relatively delicate animals,” Hoser told the Guardian, adding that when a noose is used on a snake, it will struggle and that can lead to broken bones and internal bleeding.
The python which met it's untimely demise could have held the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest snake in captivity
Medusa is currently named as the world's longest snake in captivity.
Image via WhatIsThe-EST/YoutubeThe Guinness Book of World Records currently names the world’s longest snake to be kept in captivity as Medusa, also a reticulated python, at 7.67 metres long.
Medusa lives at 'The Edge of Hell Haunted House' in Kansas City, U.S., where she is put on the show.
At 250kg – over 90kg heavier than Medusa, it is thought that the Malaysian python could have briefly stolen the world record, but it is yet to be measured by the official Guinness World Records body.