A 63-year-old Indonesian farmer who went missing on Friday was discovered dead inside the stomach of a massive python in Southeast Sulawesi’s Buton District, authorities confirmed.
The man, from the Batauga district, failed to return home after heading to his plantation early Friday morning. Concerned family members launched a search after neighbors, who were scheduled to meet him, asked about his whereabouts. His unattended motorbike was found parked by the roadside near the plantation.
Gruesome Discovery Shocks Village
Local residents and officials began combing the area on Saturday when they encountered an unusually large python—measuring approximately 8 meters (26 feet) in length—lying just a few hundred meters from the farmer’s hut.
Sertu Dirman, a local officer, said the snake’s bloated appearance raised suspicions. “Residents grew concerned when they saw the snake’s large belly and suspected it had swallowed something—or someone,” Dirman said, according to Antara News.
The villagers killed the python and cut it open, only to find the farmer’s fully clothed body inside.
First Such Incident in the Area
The body was retrieved and brought back to the victim’s home. Residents said this was the first known case of a person being swallowed by a python in their region.
Although pythons are relatively common in Indonesia, recent months have seen an increase in sightings and attacks in rural areas, particularly targeting livestock. Human fatalities, while rare, do occur and are often the result of large snakes mistaking people for prey.
Local authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, especially in areas near plantations or forests where large snakes may be lurking.
