‘World’s longest-ever captured python dies after giving birth’

Members of Malaysia's Civil Defence Force pose with a python, that they estimated to be 7.5m (24.6 ft) long and 250kg (551 pounds) in weight, caught near a construction site in Paya Terubong, Penang in this undated handout photo released April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Malaysia Civil Defence Force/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A giant python weighing 250 kg found on a Malaysian building site may be the longest ever caught, an official said on Monday.

The estimated eight-metre long snake was spotted on Thursday under a fallen tree on the island of Penang.

It died on Sunday after giving birth, Herme Herisyam, operations chief for Penang’s Civil Defence Department’s southwest district.

The current record for longest snake ever caught is 7.67m, Guinness World Records says.

Medusa, a reticulated python weighing 158kg (24st 12lb), is kept at a haunted house in Kansas City in the U.S. state of Missouri.

The Malaysian snake, also thought to be a reticulated python, has not been officially measured by record keepers.

Herisyan said it weighed 250kg and took 30 minutes to rescue, the BBC reported.

It was due to be transferred to the government’s Department of Wildlife before it died.