INDONESIA — November 9, 2026 — A giant python has become an unlikely playground attraction in a video circulating on social media, showing children climbing onto the enormous snake and sliding along its body while adults nearby appear remarkably unconcerned.
The footage, shared by NEXTA and RT, shows several children treating the reptile like an oversized playground slide. One child sits on its thick body and slides down, while others climb around it. Adults can be seen standing nearby, some recording the unusual scene on their phones.
The snake appears to be a reticulated python, a species native to Southeast Asia and known for reaching extraordinary lengths.
Although the reptile appears calm in the footage, the situation is far from harmless.
Reticulated pythons are among the longest snakes in the world, with some growing beyond 20 feet. They are not venomous, but their powerful muscles allow them to constrict prey, including animals much larger than themselves. In rare cases, attacks on humans have been fatal.
Indonesia has experienced several documented incidents involving giant pythons, including cases in which adults were swallowed by the snakes.
What makes the video particularly striking is the contrast between the children’s carefree behavior and the potential danger. While viewers unfamiliar with these reptiles may find the scene alarming, those in the footage appear comfortable being so close to the animal.
The video has attracted attention across social media, where the unusual encounter has prompted both amusement and concern.
The exact location and original recording date have not been independently established. Similar footage involving children and large pythons has circulated from Indonesia in previous years, including widely reported videos from 2018.
Regardless of when this particular encounter took place, the footage offers a remarkable glimpse of children interacting with one of the world’s largest snakes.
Wildlife experts generally advise against allowing children to handle or play with large constrictors, even when the animals appear calm. Their behavior can change quickly, and their size and strength make close contact potentially dangerous.
Sources: NEXTA (November 9, 2026); RT (video shared on social media); JFeed (November 9, 2026); Zamin.uz (November 9, 2026); Asia Times (2018).
By NJ RADAR Team