Meeting Prony: The World's Largest and Longest Python

Uncle Freddie, my travel buddy, stirred my excitement again when he told me that we'll be visiting a local celebrity. Her name is Prony. She has become the talk of the town since the day when she started to amaze the people—locals and tourist alike.

Who is Prony?

Well, if you expect that Prony would be some sort of another local entertainer who does some nerve-wrecking stunts that usually leaves the audience in high astonishment, no—she isn't. The truth is, she is admired for her great size and length.

Since I don't want to leave you hanging with a dropping jaw, let me tell you this: Prony is considered to be the world's biggest and the longest python in captivity. She is currently caged at the Bohol Python and Wildlife Park in Alburquerque, Bohol owned by Mr. Eugenio Salibay located about 3 kilometers away from the cemetery where Prony was originally captured on October 31, 1996. It was also said that her name, Prony was derived from the capturer's name, Sapronio Salibay.

Each year, Prony is growing bigger which according to snake experts, her growth is considered abnormal. Being fed with white meat like pigs and goats every month, her size and length has grown enormously to 23 feet in length, 34 inches in body circumference and now weighs about 280 kilograms!

In her man-made habitat at Bohol Python and Wildlife Park, Prony is also living with some animals like different species of birds, reptiles and mammals in separate cages. With her in the cage are two Philippine Eagles named after a famous teleserye—they are Agua and Bendita. And, I don't know if Miley Cyrus will be happy too, once she finds out about this monkey in the cage which was named after her!

The two Philippine Eagles named Agua and Bendita

Some other bird species that can be found inside the park

The Closer Encounter with the Bohol's "Anaconda"

"Don't touch her tail" that's the first thing they told me when I was inside the cage of the snake. The tail is the most sensitive part, they said.

Though I don't really have any fear encountering pet snakes, I still took extra care as I touch Prony. She's currently on a hibernating phase where she was starting to regenerate her scales and that process made her a little sickly sensitive.

I have seen some snakes in the past but Prony would have been the biggest of them all. Though her size is really a shocker to anyone who would see her; reversibly, she is a friendly and calm pet snake.

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Prony's Death

I was saddened when I hear about the news on August 15, 2013 that Prony have died. I was a little teary eyed because it was just a few weeks back when I was touching her.

According to one of the owners, Geogia Salibay, the python was 17 years old. Prony, however, is so fortunate to reach that age since Philippine Python could only live up to 15 years in captivity and 40 years if they are in their natural habitat.

At this point, no one know's yet how and why Prony died but the investigation on this is still continuing.

If you have not seen Prony yet, the Salibay family would still want to give you a chance. They want to preserve her body for an exhibit at her cage.