Grandmother, 54, is eaten alive by 22ft python: Giant snake is cut open by locals in Indonesia who found the creature with human-sized lump in the middle while searching for victim
- Jahrah, 54, a grandmother from western Indonesia, eaten by a giant python
- She was killed late Friday after going into jungle near her home to collect rubber
- Locals began searching and found huge snake with swollen belly two days later
- When they cut 22ft reptile open they found Jarah’s body nestled in its stomach
A grandmother has been eaten alive by a 22ft long python in Indonesia after going into the jungle to collect rubber.
Jahrah, 54, vanished on Friday night in woodland near her family home in Jambi province, on the western island of Sumatra.
Locals sent out search parties and two days later found a huge snake in a forest clearing with a swollen stomach, and when they cut it open found her body inside.
A 54-year-old Indonesia grandmother was found dead inside the stomach of a 22ft python (left and right) after being eaten alive as she went into the jungle to collect rubber
Anto, the head of Jarah’s village who – like many Indonesians – uses just one name, said the python likely killed her by using its body to suffocate her.
The grandmother likely died in an agonising ordeal that may have taken two hours to complete, Anto added.
Jahrah went missing late Friday before locals found the snake Sunday, cut it open and found Jarah’s body inside
The snake would have first used its fangs – which are angled backwards to provide more grip – to pin Jarah in place.
It would then have wrapped around her as quickly as possible using its powerful body and slowly constricted her until she was unable to breath.
After she had suffocated, it would have dislocated its jaw and swallowed her whole.
Fully digesting a meal that size may have taken the snake weeks, and Jarah’s body appeared largely intact – including her clothes – after the snake was cut open.
The official said: ‘The victim did not come home after saying goodbye to her family to go to the garden collecting rubber from trees on Friday.
‘Her family then reported her missing to the local authorities, and a search has been carried out since then.
‘Residents killed the snake and dissected its stomach. Everyone was astonished. It turned out that the woman we were looking for was in the snake’s stomach.’
Anto said no residents witnessed when Jahrah was eaten by a snake as she went to the forest alone.
Anto, leader of the village, said the situation is now tense with locals fearful that more giant snakes – including one that is 27ft long – are still lurking nearby
He said the conditions in his village were now tense as a number of giant pythons have been seen nearby.
Residents have already tried to catch a snake that was longer, measuring around 27ft, but it was too strong to pin down, he claimed.
Anto added: ‘Villagers are now worried that bigger snakes are still in the forest. The presence of this giant snake has also swallowed two resident goats.’
Indonesia has a large population of giant reticulated pythons, like the one that ate Jahrah. They live in remote forests and feed on wild animals, occasionally humans.
In March 2017, Akbar Salubiro was cut from the stomach of a python after being eaten alive on the island of West Sulawesi.
