A terrifying moment: a six-meter python coils around a guide's neck in Borneo (4 photos + 1 video)

Yesterday, 10:00

Hiru, an experienced snake catcher, was traveling with his team along a river in Borneo, Indonesia. He spotted a six-meter python near the shore and swam closer. In the terrifying footage, the reptile drags the man from the boat, and he disappears into the water.

Resurfacing, the guide looks around fearfully. He holds the python tightly by the head to prevent it from biting. The giant snake quickly wraps itself around his body, then his neck.

The team initially laughed when Hiru fell into the water, but then rushed to his aid. It took two men, one holding the python by the head and the other by the tail, to finally free the guide from its grip.

The snake was eventually captured and photos were taken.

Mohamed Alisa noted: "It was one of the largest and strongest pythons we've ever handled. We do not harm living creatures, so we later released it. We are taking photographs for scientific purposes only."

Luckily, Hiru was unharmed.

Several species of pythons live on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. Among them, the Bornean stumpy-tailed python and the reticulated python are prominent. These non-venomous reptiles have adapted to life in the dense tropical forests and along the island's rivers.

Reticulated pythons can reach six meters in length, making them the longest species in the world. They are found throughout Southeast Asia.

The record holder, reaching ten meters, was discovered in 1912 on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.

The python hunts by ambush. It bites its prey with its powerful jaws, then coils around the body and suffocates. This powerful and agile predator can swallow prey much larger than itself, including livestock and, in rare cases, humans.

In hot weather, when its natural habitat is disturbed, the python enters residential areas in search of food. It is often found in sewers in populated areas of Indonesia and Malaysia.