A python reportedly swallowed a large farm animal — now, here’s something you don’t hear about every day. We know that pythons are large animals; however, swallowing something as large as a cow is something entirely different. Let’s watch the video first and then dive into what type of python this could be!
Giant Python in India
The next YouTube video posted at the top of this blog post takes us to India. This video was found and shared by the News.Com.Au YouTube page. This channel is Australia’s go-to site for the best news. They share a short description of what happened in the video below.
“Giant python eats whole cow alive in India, a farmer lassos its head to try and get it off the property.”
Python Eating a Cow
At the start of this video, we are taken to India, where a local farmer noticed a massive python slithering through his backyard farm structure. This python, we can see, has just eaten something quite large, as its body is heavily distended.
This python appears to have swallowed a very large animal, which the video caption identifies as a cow. We couldn’t believe it either! However, nothing fails to amaze us with pythons anymore. They are incredible creatures that surprise people at every turn.
If you pause the video at 23 seconds, we can see the python has a lasso around its body. As we can imagine, the farmer was not happy. Not only is it damaging structures on the property, but it has also eaten one of his livestock, which is part of his livelihood as a farmer.
What Type of Python Is This?
The reticulated python can live for over 25 years.
©Mark_Kostich/Shutterstock.com
Given that this video takes place in India, it might be easy to assume this is the Indian python (Python molurus). However, if we look at the shapes and patterns on this python, we can see that they don’t quite match up. But, if we take a look at the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus), we see that the patterns align.
The reticulated python is a snake in the order Squamata and is found across parts of South and Southeast Asia. The exact global population is unknown, but the IUCN lists the reticulated python as Least Concern because of its wide distribution, adaptability, and abundance in parts of its range.
Adult reticulated pythons commonly reach impressive lengths, often around 13 to 20 feet, though exceptional individuals can grow longer. One of the largest reticulated pythons, named Medusa, was 25.2 feet in length and was over 350 pounds, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
It’s important to note that large pythons are powerful wild animals and can be dangerous if approached, handled, or threatened. It is vital to stay as far away as possible when you encounter one. The safest response is to keep a distance and contact trained wildlife authorities rather than trying to handle or restrain the snake.
