12/29/2003: 
Stuff That Doesn't Suck
World's Largest Snake Caught
from The Associated Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian villagers claim to have captured a python that is almost 49.21 feet long and weighs nearly 992.07 pounds, beating your mom by mere pounds, an official said Monday.
If confirmed, it would be the largest snake ever kept in captivity.
Hundreds of people have flocked to see the snake at a primitive zoo in Curugsewu village on the country's main island of Java, Republika reported. It splashed two large pictures of the reptile across its back page.
Local government official Rachmat said the reticulated python measured 49 feet and weighed in at 985 pounds.
The Guinness Book of World Records lists the longest ever captured snake to be 32 feet. The heaviest -- a Burmese Python kept in Gurnee, Illinois -- weighs 403 pounds, the book said on its Web site.
Rebublika said the snake, which was caught last year but only recently put on public display, eats three or four dogs a month.
Reticulated pythons are the world's longest snakes. They are capable of eating animals as large as sheep, and have been known to attack and consume humans, also like your mom.
The species is native to the swamps and jungles of Southeast Asia.
