A record-breaking giant reticulated python captured in Indonesia has been officially added to Guinness World Records as the longest snake officially measured. As reported by Guinness World Records, the amazing reptile, nicknamed ‘Ibu Baron’, has been officially measured at an impressive 7.22 meters (23 ft 8 in) long. Ibu Baron was discovered in the Maros area of Sulawesi back in December 2025. The gigantic snake has become an example of amazing diversity of nature and increased difficulties that wildlife face due to continuous reduction in habitat size.
A record-breaking giant
Ibu Baron belongs to the species Malayopython reticulatus, or the reticulated python, which is already known to be the world’s longest species of snakes. However, the official record of 7.22 meters long made Ibu Baron the world’s longest snake ever measured. For instance, Guinness World Records reports that Ibu Baron is almost as long as the entire width of a standard FIFA football goal or six-and-a-half shopping trolleys put one behind another.
Measured officially by experts
This incredible python was examined by licensed snake handler Diaz Nugraha and natural-history photographer Radu Frentiu. The specialists visited Sulawesi after receiving information about unusual snakes. With the help of a professional surveyor’s measuring tape, Ibu Baron’s length and weight were recorded. Later, this information was checked by Guinness World Records, so the official record-breaking status was officially confirmed for Ibu Baron.
She can actually be even longer
Wildlife specialists are convinced that the actual length of this snake can be even larger than the record. In fact, according to Guinness World Records, a snake’s body under anaesthetic gets stretched by about ten percent in comparison to its usual state. It means that Ibu Baron can reach almost 7.9 meters (26 feet) long. However, anaesthesia can have a negative impact on the animal’s health, so Guinness World Records recommends not using anaesthetic just for measurements.
Weighs nearly 100 kilograms
Apart from her amazing length, Ibu Baron is also very heavy. The weight of this python during measurements was 96.5 kilograms (213 pounds), although she had not eaten anything big before measurements. The specialists noted that this snake can become even heavier after eating. Moreover, the record-breaking reptile was measured with large agricultural scales used to measure rice bags.
Rescued to survive
This snake is alive thanks to Budi Purwanto, the Indonesian conservationist who reacted promptly on her discovery. As a rule, huge pythons are killed because they are considered a threat to domestic animals, pets and sometimes people. Purwanto got this snake before any harm could happen and moved her to his snake sanctuary in Sulawesi. Today, Ibu Baron lives safely together with other rescued snakes there.
Increasing conflicts between humans and snakes
Increasing encounters with such giant pythons are related to the continuous reduction in forest areas and decline in population of wild animals. According to snake specialist Diaz Nugraha, destruction of habitat and scarcity of food cause pythons to come closer to settlements to find something to eat. As a result, increasing contacts between wildlife and people cause more and more human-snake conflicts in Indonesia.
The world’s longest, but not heaviest
In spite of the fact that reticulated pythons are considered to be the longest snake species in the world, they are not recognized as the heaviest one. The world’s heaviest snake species is the green anaconda from South America, the females of which can reach a weight of over 200 kilograms.