Giant snake (1959 photography)

[palestine]

Katanga giant snake photo​

The Katanga giant snake photograph was taken from a helicopter in 1959, in the Katanga Region of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is alleged to depict a giant python measuring 30–50 ft (9–15 m) in length

According to the account received by Bernard Heuvelmans, the photograph was taken on August 1959, on an undeterminated date, but at mid-day. The photo was taken from a helicopter returning to Kamina with pilot Colonel Remy Van Lierde DFC, Colonel Gheysen, parachutist Major Defebve DSO, and engineer Adjudant Kindt on-board.

From around 125 m (400 ft) above the savannah, Gheysen noticed something resembling a very large moving tree trunk beside a destroyed termite mound.

Accepting the figure of 12–14 m (39–45 ft), Heuvelmans argued that the snake was most likely an oversized African rock python (Python sebae), not an unknown species.The absolute largest record for this species accepted by some sources is a specimen shot in a hedge at Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire, in 1932, which measured 9 m 80 cm (32 ft 2 in).

 

[Laura]

Well, something like that could sure swallow a human, or even a cow or horse, whole!!! Yikes.

 

[palestine]

Well, something like that could sure swallow a human, or even a cow or horse, whole!!! Yikes.

Yes it could swallow a cow certainly! I suppose that the inhabitants of the area may be used to having such big thing around so they may be skilled to deal with it in their days. (Thinking of this it could be their "God of the mountain")

Each time I think of this picture I remind myself that it's a view from a helicopter so it's really a big one! We see the grass/mounds around as being the aerial view.