A python believed to be the largest snake in captivity has died.
Goldie was 26 feet long and was 35 years old.
The reticulated python died from old age.
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Goldie died at the SkunkApe Research Headquarters in Ochopee, west of Florida, US.
Jack Shealy, who owns the centre, 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.”
Reticulated pythons are native to south and southeast Asia.
Goldie was a domesticated pet, as reported by Need To Know.
Unlike the Everglades’ Burmese pythons, she did not threaten the native wildlife.
Despite weighing over 300lb, she was a gentle giant.
Shealy added: “I never had her strike at me. She was pretty docile.”
A SkunkApe Research Headquarters spokesperson said: “She had a lasting impact on everyone who had the chance to see her up close.
“She came to us in the early 2000s after being rehomed from a zoo and spending a few years as a household pet.
“At that time, she was estimated to be between 10 and 15-years-old.
“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.”
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