In Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province, a 30-year-old mother of five named Siriati was killed by a 30-foot python while walking alone through the jungle. She was on her way to meet her brother to buy medicine when the attack occurred on a Tuesday morning, July 2, 2024.
When Siriati failed to arrive, her brother contacted her husband, Adiansya. Worried, Adiansya retraced her steps and found her sandals on the grass. He soon discovered a python in the process of swallowing his wife head-first, with her legs still protruding from its mouth. Despite killing the snake, Adiansya could not save Siriati, who had been crushed to death by the python.
Village Secretary Iyang stated, “The victim wanted to go out to buy her child’s medicine. She was visiting her brother and had to go through the forest first.” He explained that the python likely bit her leg, wrapped around her body, and suffocated her before swallowing her whole.
This incident is not an isolated one. Just a month prior, Farida, a 45-year-old woman from Kalempang, was swallowed whole by a 20-foot python. Farida’s husband, Noni, found her belongings scattered in the forest and, with the help of villagers, discovered the bloated snake. They cut it open and found Farida’s fully clothed body inside. “I feel sorry for her suffering,” Noni said.
Indonesia’s archipelago, consisting of over 17,000 islands, provides an ideal habitat for reticulated pythons, among the world’s longest snakes. These predators use their sharp teeth to latch onto prey and their immense bodies to suffocate victims before consuming them whole. Since 2017, at least five people in Indonesia have been killed and swallowed by these snakes.
The local community in South Sulawesi remains deeply shaken by these incidents. The region’s dense jungle and limited urban development allow these snakes to thrive and grow to formidable sizes. Villagers have been advised to take extra precautions when traveling through wooded areas, especially alone.
Authorities and locals are working to address the increasing threat of python attacks, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and safety measures to prevent further loss of life from such encounters with nature.