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This link is to five photos of the large retic in question. It doesn't appear to be quite as large as stated, although definitely a large snake.

Kelly

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3356945.stm

Just look at the people next to it in one of the pics and look at the guy touching it! it looks to be like maybe 20 feet or soo and in the pic were all the people are standing out side its cage look at the size of its head compared to the people don't you think a 49 foot retic would have a much larger head! and in the same pic does that look 900 pounds no I dont think so its fake all a rumor
stephen

Kelly – Thanks for the link to those photos.

I haven’t read the newspaper accounts, but a couple of things strike me about this snake from looking at these photos.

That is a hell of a big retic to be found in the wild. Does anyone know when it actually came into captivity? It's plenty heavy, but looks more like 20 feet long.

It is fairly scruffy looking towards the rear of its body, especially that stub tail.

It appears to be amazingly tame for a wild-caught mega-retic.

I imagine the truth of its actual weight and length will emerge in time. For starters, if it were “even” 30 feet long, that zoo could claim that long-offered reward money from the New York Zoological Society, couldn’t it?

-Joan

Joan,
I agree; from it's excellent body weight and attitude it appears that it has been in captivity for some time before it was purchased by the current owner. If I had to guess I would say it is in the 20 to 25 feet size class. No record but still a fair size python.

Kelly

After viewing more pics I would guess it to be in the mid 20"s.It still is an impressive animal with a good amount of girth.This makes me question even more how long it's been in captivity.

>>I imagine the truth of its actual weight and length will emerge in time. For starters, if it were “even” 30 feet long, that zoo could claim that long-offered reward money from the New York Zoological Society, couldn’t it?

Myabe not. I believe to collect the prize you have to turn over the snake (but I can't find specific info). It might be worth more as a tourist attraction...
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Larry D. Fishel
Side effects may include paralysis
and death but are generally mild.

I think the report I read on Yahoo said they caught the retic last year and just now released to the press they had it.
Doesnt look 49 foot, I have seen 20-25 foot retics and 1 burm in real life and it looks the just like those, probably a 25 footer.
Unless those photos are not of the actual snake.
trenity