A chilling and tragic incident in Indonesia has captured the attention of both local communities and international audiences after a 30-year-old farmer, identified as Peco, was killed and swallowed whole by a 23-foot reticulated python while working in a palm plantation in South Sulawesi. The horrifying attack occurred just after dusk on Tuesday in the remote village of Mamea, North Luwu Regency, leaving the family, community, and authorities grappling with the devastating loss.
Peco, a father of three, was in the plantation collecting sap from palm trees, a task he had done many times before to produce brown sugar. However, on this fateful day, while he was working alone in the dense plantation, he was ambushed by a massive reticulated python—one of the largest snake species in the world.
The python, which can grow up to 30 feet in length, attacked Peco just after dark. Using its incredible strength, it coiled around his body and constricted, suffocating him. Once he was dead, the snake dislocated its jaw, a method pythons use to swallow prey much larger than their heads, and began consuming him. The attack was quick and brutal, with the snake consuming Peco’s body whole.
The incident occurred in a rural part of North Luwu Regency, a region with vast expanses of palm plantations and forested areas. The growing presence of palm plantations in the region has increased human activity in areas previously inhabited only by wildlife, leading to a rise in dangerous encounters with large predators like pythons.
Peco’s wife, Dewi, began to worry when her husband did not return home by evening. Concerned, she alerted other family members, and his brother-in-law, Wawan, went out into the plantation to search for him. What he discovered was both disturbing and tragic.
Wawan soon spotted a massive python with a bulging stomach, indicating that it had recently consumed a large meal. The python, still in the area, had swallowed Peco. Terrified by the sight, Wawan rushed back to the village to inform the locals, who quickly mobilized to investigate the situation.
As word spread, local villagers and leaders gathered in the plantation. Armed with knives and machetes, they began to carefully approach the snake. The serpent was found coiled in the same spot where it had killed and consumed Peco. The villagers worked together to cut open the python’s belly, revealing Peco’s lifeless body inside. The graphic and horrific footage of the body being extracted from the snake was later shared on social media, sparking widespread outrage and sympathy for the victim.
Local authorities arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery. Sabbang Police Chief Ipda Jusman confirmed that the victim, Peco, had been killed by the reticulated python and that no foul play was suspected. Following the recovery of the body, the victim’s remains were taken to the funeral home for cremation, in line with local customs.
Peco’s family, particularly his wife and three young children, were left devastated by the sudden loss. His brother-in-law, Wawan, described the shock and grief that the family felt. “We used to joke about being eaten by a snake at night. It’s a danger that everyone knows about here, but I can’t explain how this happened to my brother. He was very experienced in this work,” Wawan said.
The loss of Peco has left the community in mourning, and his relatives and neighbors have expressed disbelief that such a horrific event could happen to someone as experienced as him. Peco was known for his hard work and dedication to his family, making the tragedy all the more difficult for those who knew him.
Peco’s death is part of a broader and increasingly concerning trend of human-wildlife conflicts in Indonesia, particularly in rural regions where agriculture and wildlife habitats overlap. As Indonesia’s agricultural industry, particularly palm oil production, expands, wildlife such as reticulated pythons, tigers, and crocodiles are often pushed out of their natural habitats and forced into closer proximity with human settlements.
The reticulated python, which is native to Southeast Asia, is one of the largest snake species in the world, capable of growing to lengths of over 30 feet. Known for its ability to constrict and suffocate large prey before swallowing it whole, the reticulated python poses a significant threat to humans, especially in areas where they are forced into closer contact with populated regions.
In recent years, there have been several similar incidents across Indonesia. In August 2024, a 57-year-old woman named Hapsah was crushed to death by a giant python while working on a farm in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province. The snake, measuring 16 feet, squeezed the life out of her before swallowing her. Another woman, Maga, 74, was killed just days earlier in South Sulawesi by a python while grazing her cows in a forested area.
These incidents are part of a disturbing rise in attacks on humans by large reptiles, particularly pythons, which are increasingly found in rural areas where palm plantations, rubber farms, and other agricultural operations are expanding. The rise in such attacks has prompted calls for better management of both wildlife conservation and agricultural practices in the region.
The growing demand for palm oil, rubber, and other agricultural products has led to widespread deforestation in Indonesia, displacing many species of wildlife. While palm plantations provide important economic benefits to the country, they have also caused significant environmental damage. The destruction of forests and the expansion of agricultural land have brought people into closer contact with wildlife, leading to more frequent encounters and, in some cases, deadly attacks.
Experts warn that without careful planning and sustainable land-use practices, the situation will continue to worsen. Dr. Iwan Wibowo, a conservation biologist based in Jakarta, expressed concern about the growing number of human-wildlife conflicts. “As agriculture expands into previously untouched forests, the likelihood of these types of encounters will continue to increase. We need better management practices to protect both humans and wildlife,” Dr. Wibowo said.
Conservationists are advocating for the establishment of wildlife corridors—protected areas that allow animals to move freely between different habitats—so that pythons and other species are not forced into areas where they could come into contact with humans. They also emphasize the importance of educating local communities about the risks of wildlife encounters and providing the tools to help prevent such attacks.
In response to these incidents, authorities in South Sulawesi have pledged to review the policies regarding wildlife management and agriculture, especially in regions where wildlife habitats are increasingly being disrupted. While some steps have been taken to reduce human-wildlife conflict, including wildlife monitoring programs and educational campaigns, many believe these efforts need to be expanded.
For now, the family of Peco is left to mourn their tragic loss, while the wider community is left grappling with the harsh reality that such attacks can occur. As human activity continues to encroach on wildlife habitats, both government officials and conservation groups will need to find ways to mitigate the risks posed by these encounters. The situation serves as a painful reminder of the dangers that lurk in Indonesia’s forests and rural areas—where humans and wildlife must share space in an increasingly fragile ecosystem.
Peco’s death, while an isolated tragedy, underscores the broader issue of balancing development with the preservation of natural habitats in Indonesia. If not addressed, such incidents are likely to increase, with more lives at risk from the country’s ever-growing agricultural industry.
Discussion about this post