World’s largest Snake: Finding & Caring for a Giant Reticulated Python (Bronx Zoo)

[bronxzoofrank]

Originally Posted by lemon

Hi,

I have footage of Samantha being measured in 1999.

I'm not sure if this link will work outside of the uk but here it is.

Big Snake - 4oD - Channel 4

Samantha was obtained by the zoo in 1993 after being captured as an adult in 1992.

When she was measured in 1999 she had been at the zoo for 6-7 years and would have been between 15-20 years of age.

Retics do not grow after this age and they certainley don't grow another 3 foot in as many years as Samantha sadly died 3 years later in 2002.

On the documentary they we're trying to find a 30 foot plus snake and so were not in the habbit of downsizing snakes. They measured Samantha and the average was just below 23 foot. Still an absolutley massive snake and probably the biggest in captivity but if you google 'Fragant flower' who is confirmed at 22 foot 9 inches you'll know that Samantha wasn't a whole 3 foot longer.

I have two 6 year old adult retics , one at 16 foot and one at just over 19 foot. The difference in size with these 2 snakes is immense, Samantha would need to have the same immense size difference compared to 'Fragant Flower' and the other giants of our time. Samantha was very long and very well fed but unfortunaely I've yet to see evidence of her being 26 foot.

I hope the link works as at the end they find a very skinny 23.5 foot long retic that if genuinley that size would be the longest ever recorded. I have doubts though as they dont show the measuring as such and unfortunately they kill and eat her in a very unhumane manner.

Best,

Neil

Can't see link, do not recall being in a documentary in "99 (zoo very reluctant to participate as most so poorly done); nothing further to add, good luck with all, Frank

[lemon]

Originally Posted by bronxzoofrank

Can't see link, do not recall being in a documentary in "99 (zoo very reluctant to participate as most so poorly done); nothing further to add, good luck with all, Frank

The documentary is of a guy called 'Robert Twigger' and meets the guy in charge of the reptile house called 'John Behler'.

She was measured at just under 23 feet. Mr Behler then says they find it diffucult to measure her and they sometimes get her between 23 and 25 foot. This isn't only not 26 foot but also the guy is speaking absolute rubbish.

I measure my snakes on my own, in the footage their are about 10 people holding her down and they are using string. The measurement would never ever by 2 foot different when you have that many people handling her. In the footage she is being pinned down and you would only get a few cm's difference on each measurement.

She was a very beautiful big snake, but she wasn't 26 foot as proved in the footage.

She is unfortunately just another exaggaration like all the rest.

All the best,

Neil