Picture: Did this HUGE snake eat a human being?

AOL Travel

November 29, 2013 at 6:39 a.m.·2 min read

A picture of a snake that looks like it has eaten a human-sized meal has been taking the internet by storm.

The enormous python is pictured after eating a snack that some suggest was a person.

A Python ate a person who was drunk and lying beside the liquor shop. News from Attapady, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/2vRqCEaabn
- VIKRAMAN NAIR (@mvnair212) November 27, 2013

According to the Daily Mail, the origin of the picture is in question, with a number of suggestions as to where it comes from sweeping the net.

One Twitter user suggests it was taken in India, where the snake swallowed a drunk man who fell asleep on the street, while another claims the reptile swallowed a woman in Durban, South Africa, in June 2013, and the the image was taken by Linda Laina Nyatoro, a reporter.

Some sites, however, including Hoax Slayer, and news.com.au claim the photo is a big fat fake. It reports the Linda Laina Nyatoro did post the picture on her Facebook page, but did not claim to be a witness to the supposed incident.

She claims that one of her colleagues was there when a woman's body was removed from the snake.

But this has not been confirmed. The site also says the pictures has been circling online since September 2012 so, whatever it did eat, it was not likely to have been a woman in South Africa in June 2013.

While it is not impossible, credible reports of humans being swallowed whole by pythons are very rare.

Back in 2002, a 20ft African rock python swallowed a 10-year-old boy whole while he was fruit picking in Durban, reports the Daily Telegraph.

<p>
Although they might look cumbersome and cute, hippos are actually one of the most feared animals in Africa, and can outrun a human. When a male feels its territory is threatened, or a female thinks her offspring her in danger, these animals can be particularly dangerous. And with huge teeth and mouth that can open four feet wide, it's a good idea to steer clear.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 100-150 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Hippos will charge, trample and gore its victims, and have been known to upturn boats and canoes without warning.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa</p>

<p>
Many people might not realise that the cape buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, and will react with force when it feels threatened. These beasts can weigh up to 1.5 tons and stand at 1.7 metres high; they're so intimidating that even lions don't usually consider them dinner. Cape buffalos will charge, and then gore its victim to death with its impressive horns.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 200 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> These animals will charge and gore their victims to death with their huge horns.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa</p>

<p>
Out of the world's 2,000 species of snake, around 250 are thought to be capable of killing a man. The Asian cobra does not have the deadliest venom, but is believed to be responsible for the biggest portion of the thousands of snakebite deaths every year. In Africa, the black mamba is the largest venomous snake and, during an attack, can strike up to 12 times, each time delivering enough neuro and cardio-toxic venom to kill a dozen men within 1 hour.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 50-125,000 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> A snake will use its fangs to pierce the skin and inject its paralysing venom.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa, Asia, Australia, North America</p>

<p>
Box jellyfish can have up to 60 tentacles as long as 15 feet. And each tentacle contains enough venom to kill 50 humans, making it one of the most venomous marine creatures in the world. If stung, a box jellyfish can kill a man within minutes.<br />
<strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 100 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Jellyfish use their tentacles to pump venom and paralyse its prey. Deaths in humans are usually a result of cardiac arrest.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.</p>

<p>
Apart from humans, the mosquito is the deadliest creature on the planet. It kills millions of people every year through the spread of diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Many of the malaria victims are children under the age of five.<br />
<strong>Kills: </strong>Two to three million people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Female mosquitos pierce the skin with serrated mouth parts, and inject a saliva with a thinning agent to liquidise the blood.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Worldwide, more harmful in Africa, Asia and North America</p>

<p>
The great white shark, which can grow up to six metres in length and weigh up to five tons, seems to have the most ferocious reputation. But, while they have been known to attack humans, most of these incidents are thought to be 'test bites', where the animal is deciphering whether he wants to eat you. And, generally, they humans are not on the menu. It is thought the aggressive bull shark is responsible for the most attacks on people. Out of the 360 shark species, only four are known killers: the great white, the bull, tiger, and the oceanic white tip.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 100 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Sharks use their razor-sharp teeth to rip chunks out of its victims. Great whites usually take a big single bite, drag their victims into deeper waters, and wait until the prey bleeds to death before they eat it.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Florida, Australia, Hawaii and South Africa.</p>

<p>
The are lots of different species of bear, but the polar, black and grizzly are the deadliest. Native to the Arctic, polar bears could decapitate a human being with one swipe of their massive paws. Bears generally attack when they are hungry, so it's a good idea to keep food away from your camp.<br />
<strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 5 to 10 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Bear will use their teeth and claws to maul and trample their victims.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> North America, Canada, North Pole, and Russia.</p>

<p>
Crocodiles have been around for 200 million years, and are fearsome predators. The saltwater crocodile, or saltie, is the largest living reptile in the world, and can grow up to 21ft long and weigh 1.6 tons. These animals can run extremely fast on land, and, in the water, can swim as fast as dolphin. Many fatalities occur when people are washing or gathering food near river banks.<br />
<strong>Kills: </strong>An estimated 600-800 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Crocodiles will grab their victims with terrifying speed, and often launch into a 'death roll', weakening its prey, dragging it under water and drowning the victim.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa and Australia</p>

<p>
Out of the 1,500 species of scorpion, the African spitting scorpion is thought to be the most deadly, and can spray its venom up to a metre. Arounf 25 species of scorpion are thought to be deadly to humans.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 800-2,000 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> Scorpions use their tail stingers to paralyse their prey with venom.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Worldwide; particularly Africa, the Americas and Central Asia.</p>

<p>
Weighing in at up to eight tons, although beautiful creatures, elephants can be lethal. African elephants in particular can be aggressive, especially older bulls and young males. These creatures, unsurprisingly, are more aggressive in areas where poaching is rife or when their habitat is threatened.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 300-500 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique: </strong>Most human deaths are result of the elephant trampling on its victim.<br />
<strong>Lives in: </strong>Africa and India</p>

<p>
African lions are the biggest of the big cats, and are known to kill around 70 people in Tanzania alone every year. With the destruction of their habitat, human attacks by leopards in India, and the North American mountain lion are thought to be on the increase.<br />
<strong>Kills:</strong> An estimated 800 people a year.<br />
<strong>Deadly technique:</strong> African lions will often use strangulation to kill their prey, while tigers will attack from the back and aim for the jugular, and mountain lions will maul their victims.<br />
<strong>Lives in:</strong> Africa, North America, and India</p>

Although they might look cumbersome and cute, hippos are actually one of the most feared animals in Africa, and can outrun a human. When a male feels its territory is threatened, or a female thinks her offspring her in danger, these animals can be particularly dangerous. And with huge teeth and mouth that can open four feet wide, it's a good idea to steer clear.
Kills: An estimated 100-150 people a year.
Deadly technique: Hippos will charge, trample and gore its victims, and have been known to upturn boats and canoes without warning.
Lives in: Africa

Yahoo Finance UK
FTSE 100 LIVE: London shares lower as UK growth revised down to zero
The downward revision came as the CBI warned chancellor Rachel Reeves the UK economy is 'headed for the worst of all worlds'.
HuffPost
CNN Host Calls Out GOP Senator's Absurd Elon Musk Claim: 'That Can't Be True'
Bill Hagerty claimed the billionaire's social media takes led to his office being "inundated with calls."
BBC
A dam ignited rare Tibetan protests. They ended in beatings and arrests, BBC finds
Through sources and footage, the BBC pieces together how China cracked down on the protests.
HuffPost UK
Ukraine Has Lost Nearly Half The Russian Territory It Seized, UK Says
North Korean troops are helping Moscow reclaim its land.
The Independent
Lime bikes may annoy a lot of London, but young people like me love them
LET’S UNPACK THAT: The ubiquitous green bikes are a massive wind-up to councils, car drivers and older people, but once you get addicted to whizzing around on them, you just can’t stop, says Roisin Lanigan
Cover Media
Kate Cassidy unveils angel wings tattoo after Liam Payne's death
The former One Direction singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. He was 31. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, Kate posted a snap showing her hugging the couple's dog, Nala. She also offered fans a glimpse of her left index and middle fingers, which had been tattooed with angel wing motifs. Kate didn't offer any further comment on the body art. While the social media influencer has stepped away from the spotlight since Liam's tragic passing,...
Reuters
Swiss business gets Christmas bonus from EU trade deal
Swiss business welcomed a new deal to overhaul the country's relationship with the European Union, bringing Christmas cheer to an economy that is set to be one of Europe's most resilient in a challenging 2025. Corporate lobbies, economists and firms say the agreement unveiled on Friday stabilises relations with the bloc - which accounts for over half of Swiss exports - even if it still faces a difficult ratification process involving a likely referendum. "Market access is crucial: European trade is a cornerstone of the Swiss economy," said Samad Sarferaz at the KOF Economic Institute at ETH, a university in Zurich.
The Independent
Death in Paradise fans amazed at fact about show’s new lead actor
‘Whatever happens, let’s have some respect for Don Gilet,’ said one viewer
The Canadian Press
Charlotte 49ers and the Murray State Racers play in Honolulu, Hawaii
Murray State Racers (6-5, 1-1 MVC) vs. Charlotte 49ers (6-5)
The Canadian Press
North Dakota State faces CSU Bakersfield, looks for 8th straight victory
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (6-7, 0-2 Big West) at North Dakota State Bison (10-4)
The Canadian Press
Penn State beats Louisville 3-1 to make Schumacher-Cawley 1st female coach to win volleyball title
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Katie Schumacher-Cawley took in her milestone moment with a big smile, hugging confetti-covered players and supporters before hoisting the championship trophy that sets her apart from other volleyball coaches.
Evening Standard
Tennis power couple Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter announce engagement
The pair have been dating since March 2020
The Telegraph
Woman dies after being set on fire on New York City subway train
A woman has died after being set on fire by an apparent stranger on a New York City subway train. Police arrested a suspect who is alleged to have sat watching his victim burn.
The Guardian
Aviva to buy Direct Line in £3.7bn deal, putting 2,300 jobs at risk
Insurance takeover is likely to cast a pall of uncertainty over Christmas for many staff of combined group
The Canadian Press
Nissan, Honda announce plans to merge, creating world's No. 3 automaker
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger, forming world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels.
Reuters Videos
Blockade, panic, invasion: Taiwan TV drama imagines war with China
STORY: An upcoming Taiwanese TV drama "Zero Day" promises to show Taiwanese audiences what a war with China might look like.It's an unprecedented production, confronting a topic that remains too sensitive for many Taiwanese filmmakers and with creators facing indirect censorship from China.The ten-episode series is set to be released next year, but an extended trailer released in July has already set off buzz in Taiwan, where residents have for many years considered a war with China unlikely.In recent years, though, China has stepped up war games, simulated attacks and blockades of the island.Beijing maintains democratically governed Taiwan is Chinese territory, while the government in Taipei rejects that claim.The trailer for "Zero Day" focuses on several imagined scenarios should a war between China and Taiwan break out.It teased a global financial collapse, the activation of Chinese sleeper agents and panicked residents trying to flee the island."Without freedom, Taiwan is not Taiwan" says a fictional Taiwan president in a speech, urging unity after declaring war on China.The live feed gets cut off, replaced by a Chinese state television anchor who tells Taiwanese to surrender and to report "hidden pro-independence activists" to landing Chinese soldiers.Speaking to Reuters, showrunner Cheng Hsin Mei said Taiwanese should confront the fear of invasion, rather than pretend it will never happen:"When we planned this drama, we hoped to make people think: would they trade away their freedoms for power, or for an enormous sum of money? When faced with the temptation, what will the Taiwanese people choose?”But for the series' crew, confronting the idea in fiction has meant real challenges, from funding and casting to finding places to film.Cheng said more than half of the crew of "Zero Day" asked to be anonymous on the crew list.Some, including a director, pulled out of production at the last minute over worries it might jeopardize their future work in China, or the safety of family members working there."Those of us who worked on this production hope that this drama, which tackles such a taboo topic, becomes popular. That would 'open a door' for other creators to not be too concerned about the China issue."For many Taiwanese artists and entertainers, China is a much larger and lucrative market for film and television.But Beijing has regularly called out Taiwan artists who were seen as violating China's political ideology or have threatened to blacklist those unwilling to cooperate.
The Independent
UK economy heading for ‘worst of all worlds’, CBI warns Labour
After Rachel Reeves’s controversial Budget, the Confederation of British Industry warns the economy is ‘headed for the worst of all worlds’
The Telegraph
What’s on TV tonight: All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas Special, Pictionary and more
All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas Special Channel 5, 9pm Cockles will surely be warmed across the nation by another charming festive edition of TV’s cosiest drama, although not without a few scares along the way. While Tristan’s (Callum Woodhouse) military assignment of pigeon breeding meets a formidable obstacle in Duncan Preston’s curmudgeonly enthusiast, Siegfried (Samuel West) is faced with a mangy fox and little Jimmy faces a first birthday and Christmas without the usual trimmings,
The Canadian Press
Middle East latest: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill at least 20 people, Palestinian medics say
Palestinian medics say Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 20 people.
USA TODAY
Art Evans, 'A Soldier's Story' and 'Die Hard 2' actor, dies at 82
Actor Art Evans, best known for his roles in the films "A Soldier's Story" and "Die Hard 2," died on Saturday. He was 82.

Latest Stories