Missing mother found dead in 16-foot-long python

A woman who went missing last Thursday was found dead in the belly of a snake that swallowed her whole in central Indonesia, local officials said Saturday.

Farida, 45, a mother of four, was discovered by her husband and residents of Kalempang village, South Sulawesi province. The woman's body was inside a reticulated python measuring approximately 16 feet long.

Village chief Suardi Rosi told AFP a search operation had been launched after she failed to return home last week.

Suardi said Fardia's husband had “found her things”, but when he was unable to locate her, he became suspicious and worried.

“The villagers then searched the area. They quickly spotted a python with a big belly,” Suardi said. “They agreed to open the python’s stomach. As soon as they did, Farida's head was immediately visible.

The villagers found Farida fully clothed inside the snake.

The Daily Mail and TMZ published graphic images of the opened snake and the woman's body carried in a blanket in front of those searching for her.

Although being killed by the pythons is rare, it has happened before, most recently in 2022 when a woman in Indonesia was killed and swallowed whole by one of the snakes, the BBC reported.

Zoo Atlanta, which is home to some reticulated pythons, said this breed of snake has “a reputation for being aggressive.”

The python is also the longest snake in the world, growing up to 20 feet long, being native to South Asia, the Natural History Museum in London explained.