World’s biggest snake in captivity Goldie dies aged 35 after growing to 26ft & 300lbs as tributes paid to ‘gentle giant’
THE world's biggest snake in captivity has died aged 35 after growing to 26ft and 300lbs.
Tributes poured in for Goldie following her death, describing her as a "gentle giant".
The python died at the SkunkApe Research Headquarters in Ochopee, west of Florida, US.
Centre owner, Jack Shealy, said: “It was her time.
"She lived a full life, and she was iconic to this place.
“For 20-something years she’s been part of our family.”
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Goldie came to SkunkApe in the early 2000s after being re-homed from a zoo and spending a few years as a household pet.
She is thought to have been between 10 and 15 years old when she arrived.
A representative from SkunkApe said: "With an impressive lifespan of over 30 years, she was truly a legend among reticulated pythons.
“Working with reptiles has always been a challenge and a privilege, and Goldie was a huge part of that journey.
“Rest easy, Goldie. You were one of a kind.”
Reticulated pythons are native to south and southeast Asia.
But unlike the Everglades’ Burmese pythons, Goldie did not threaten the native wildlife.
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