Fluffy, an 18-year-old reticulated python (Python reticulatus) measuring 24 feet long and weighing 300 pounds, has passed away at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio. Preliminary findings from the zoo indicate a mass was found on her ovary, believed to be a tumor. Fluffy held the Guinness World Record for the longest snake.
Bob Clark, owner of Bob Clark Captive Bred Reptiles, raised Fluffy from a hatchling in 1992. “It’s sad, of course,” Clark said. “People that keep and breed live animals know that this sort of thing is part of the deal. It happens. I’ll miss her.” Initially, Fluffy was a tiger reticulated python—a rarity in the early 1990s—but showed nothing remarkable at hatching, with parents of average length. However, as she grew significantly larger than Clark’s other snakes, she became known for her gigantic size, beautiful appearance, and sweet disposition. In 2006, Clark received a call from Jack Hanna, TV personality and director emeritus at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who was seeking a large snake. Clark offered a “really big snake,” leading to a lease agreement and eventual sale of Fluffy to the zoo. Her gentle nature and impressive size quickly attracted large crowds. Before her zoo debut, Fluffy appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman, despite the challenges of transporting such a large animal. At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Fluffy occasionally explored the empty pachyderm yard from her Asia Quest exhibit habitat, transported by zookeepers using a special wagon. Clark reflected on Fluffy as a “special animal” who produced hundreds of offspring during his care. He also noted that he may have other snakes that could contend for the world’s longest snake title in the future.
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