JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian villagers have captured a python that is 49.21 feet long and weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, a local 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 daily reported.

Local government official Rachmat said the reticulated python measured 14.85 meters (49 feet) and weighed in at 447 kilograms (985 pounds).

The Guinness Book of World Records lists the longest ever captured snake to be 9.75 meters (32 feet). The heaviest--a Burmese Python kept in Gurnee, Illinois--weighs 182.76 kilograms (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.

The species is native to the swamps and jungles of Southeast Asia.

You really should post a link to the story such as this one from WFTV. This is really neat that they found the snake. However, it is sadly inevitable that they captured it.

They should feed it cats instead. derf

Saw the article in this morning's paper. The combination of Exhibitors and the "AP" makes for shoddy facts. Doubt it's much over 30', myself, as even that would be a major find. That said, it would indeed be a revelation, should this prove to be true and I can't help hoping it is!

Hopefully they'll get the poor animal a better cage.