Indonesia’s Giant Pythons in Spotlight After New Guinness Length Record
- Guinness World Records confirmed a new benchmark for the longest measured wild reticulated python after a giant specimen was found in Maros, South Sulawesi.
- Conservationists say the discovery of “Ibu Baron” highlights both Indonesia’s biodiversity and the risks giant snakes face from conflict with humans and weak protections.
- Researchers and handlers argue stronger habitat protection and anti-killing rules in protected areas could reduce conflict and support conservation and eco-tourism.
Indonesia is often cited as having the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, after Brazil and the Congo Basin—an ecological asset that supports exceptionally rich biodiversity.
Among the wildlife that continues to draw global attention are Indonesia’s giant wild pythons. Most recently, the world’s longest documented wild reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) was found in Maros, South Sulawesi, in late 2025.
The title of “longest wild snake” was awarded by Guinness World Records (GWR) following an official measurement conducted on Jan. 18, 2026. GWR confirmed the record.
Conservation handlers noted that even under anesthesia, the snake’s length can increase by around 10 percent. With the body fully relaxed, its true length is estimated to approach meters.
The python has been named “Ibu Baron” and is currently under the care of local conservationist Budi Parwanto, who has developed a snake sanctuary of sorts in Sulawesi over the past several years.
However, Ibu Baron is not the only giant python ever recorded in Indonesia. Citing information published on the official GWR website, here is what is known.
Before Ibu Baron, the longest wild reticulated python measured scientifically was also found in Indonesia—specifically in East Kalimantan, Borneo, in August 1999.
Measuring meters, the snake was discovered after it preyed on a sun bear that had recently been released into the wild and fitted with a tracking device. The case was later documented in a study published in The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology in 2005.
In the years since, there have been many reports of even longer wild reticulated pythons. The key difference is that most lacked official documentation or standardized measurements.
In many cases, the snakes also did not survive long after being found—killed by people or disappearing under unclear circumstances—making later verification difficult.
One frequently cited historical example involves a reticulated python reportedly hunted in Sulawesi in 1912. The snake was claimed to have reached meters—roughly the length of a modern American school bus.
Several classic reptile references, including MWF Tweedie’s The Snakes of Malaya (1954), have suggested the animal measured more than meters. But these accounts rely on anecdotal historical records and provide no direct evidence of how the measurements were taken, unlike the documentation for Ibu Baron.
Ibu Baron was located during a mission led by licensed snake handler Diaz Nugraha from Kalimantan and natural history explorer-photographer Radu Frentiu. Diaz believes an even larger python may still be out there.
“I think so (that there is a bigger one). How big? It’s realistic to expect a -meter snake—or even larger—exists somewhere. Most likely in Indonesia, if not in the Amazon Basin,” he told GWR.
Diaz, Frentiu and Parwanto hope that rescuing and documenting Ibu Baron will raise awareness, particularly among Indonesian authorities.
Their focus is on the threats faced by giant snakes in Indonesia and the need for more effective conservation measures.
“Our hope is that pythons and other giant snakes will no longer be viewed as pests, but as symbols of the archipelago and animals that are important for the ecosystem,” Frentiu said.
They also argue that snakes can become a valuable local wildlife attraction that supports tourism, as herpetology safaris grow in popularity.
“All of this can generate income for local communities, create awareness, support conservation and strengthen local pride,” he added.
Diaz further said stronger legal policy is needed to protect Indonesia’s native reptiles, including tighter protections backed by robust laws to preserve snake habitats.
He also called for bans on killing snakes in protected areas. He said several approaches can reduce contact between humans, livestock and snakes—one of them being better protection of natural food chains and ecosystems so snakes are less likely to enter villages in search of prey, Diaz said.
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