Every time we visited the Bronx Zoo's Reptile House, the first exhibit we looked at was Samantha's. Each time we saw Samantha, we were amazed by her size. Not only was she long (26 ft.), but she was also thick, even when she hadn't just eaten. Her head was the size of a dog's head, and not a small dog, either.
She was the largest reticulated python in captivity, and possibly in the world. It would be difficult to imagine a larger snake somewhere out there in the wild.
Unfortunately, Samantha died November 20, 2002, after living at the Bronx Zoo since 1993. Her exact age was not known, but it was believed she was about twenty years old.
The photo above was taken on October 19, 2002. The position she is in was the best position she had ever been in for viewing and photographing her face and her entire body.
The next time we visit the Bronx Zoo, I will miss seeing her in her exhibit in the Reptile House.