Possible 'world's longest snake' caught in Malaysia dies 'on her own' after three days
A python that could be the world's longest ever caught has died just three days after it was captured in Malaysia.
Before it died on Sunday, it laid an egg, local media reports.
The snake is thought to be about eight metres long and weigh around 250 kilograms – making it a contender for a world record despite its recent loss of life. +
The current world record for the longest snake held in captivity is Medusa, measuring at 7.67 metres, according to the Guinness World Records.
But the latest catch, made by a team of six JPAM workers in Malaysia, could slither past that, although records keepers are yet measure it officially.
The mighty, expired serpent was found hiding under a tree trunk at a construction site.
A video of the capture shows a number of men man-handling it like it is a lifeless fire hose, soaking it down with water and strapping its jaws shut while they parade it about.
One man kicks the snake, believed to be a reticulated python, with his boot while another shoves it about with his foot.
It is possible the stress of capture contributed to the snake's death, with one official telling the BBC it went "quite" after laying the egg.
Spokesperson for Malaysia’s Civil Defence Force Shazree Mustapha said the python "died on her own".
But snake handler Raymond Hoser told the Guardian: "Snakes don't just drop dead. If they die there is a reason."
Mr Hoser said the way the snake was treated in the final days of its life that it had otherwise spent in the wild could be a contributing factor in its demise.
"If they used a noose to catch the snake, that has caused the injury that has caused the death."
The longest snake ever recorded was 10 metres, in Indonesia. But it was not caught – it was shot.
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