A woman was swallowed whole by a 16-foot python while walking to work at a rubber plantation in Indonesia. Her body was later cut from the snake's stomach after the reptile was killed by villagers.
Discovery of the Missing Worker
Jahrah, a rubber-tapper in her early 50s, set off for work at a rubber plantation in Jambi province on a Sunday morning in 2022. When she failed to return home, she was reported missing and a search party was launched.
Villagers discovered a python with a severely swollen stomach. The snake was killed by locals, who found her body inside. The victim's husband had found some of her clothing and work tools at the plantation on Sunday evening, prompting the search.
Police Confirmation
Betara Jambi police chief AKP S Harefa told local media: "The victim was found in the snake's stomach." He added that her body appeared largely intact when found. The 16-foot snake was spotted the following Monday and captured by villagers. "After they cut the belly apart, they found it was Jahrah inside," Mr Harefa told CNN Indonesia.
Rare but not Unprecedented
Nia Kurniawan, from Brawijaya University, explained that a python of this size would ordinarily prey on large animals and primates. It is rare for pythons to eat humans. This species can reach lengths of up to 32 feet and is considered sacred in some regions of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
In 2018, the body of Wa Tiba, a 54-year-old mother of two, was found inside a 23-foot python in Indonesia. She had failed to return home after tending her garden. Her sons found the snake with a swollen belly, barely able to move. Eyewitness Ayu Kartika said: "Everyone was crying, everybody was shocked. The poor woman. This is like a horror movie. People are terrified. We are scared to go outside. We can only pray for safety."
