A reticulated python named Ibu Baron has been confirmed as the longest verifiably measured wild snake in the world. The massive python, discovered in Indonesia's Maros region, measures 23 feet and 8 inches and weighs 213 pounds. Guinness World Records recently verified her record-breaking length after careful documentation by wildlife experts.

Photographer Radu Frentiu and wildlife guide Diaz Nugraha traveled to Sulawesi to measure the snake in January 2025. They used a surveyor's tape to follow her natural curves, recording her length while she was fully conscious. Frentiu believes the python could be even longer when her muscles fully relax under anesthesia, potentially adding 10 to 15 percent to her measurement.

Local conservationist Budi Purwanto has sheltered Ibu Baron at his facility, protecting her from poachers and hunters. The snake's survival is remarkable given that large reticulated pythons are often killed when they venture near human settlements. Frentiu and his team hope Ibu Baron's recognition will promote herpetological tourism and demonstrate that giant snakes can be worth more alive than dead.

Quick Fact: Ibu Baron measures 23 feet and 8 inches in length.