Wildlife expert and adventurist Forrest Galante was recently a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience. During the episode, they discussed the urban legend of massive anacondas in the Amazon rainforest.
It was at this point that Forrest Galante dropped some knowledge on Joe Rogan. Forrest posed a simple question to Joe, asking him where on Planet Earth we never hear about XXL snakes despite the climate being perfect.
Galante mentions how Southeast Asia (home to the reticulated python), the Amazon river basin, and to some extent now, Florida all have similar climates. Forrest then tells Joe Rogan about the legend of a 50-foot snake spotted by Belgian Air Force colonel Remy Van Lierde in 1959.
He points out how we generally never hear news about abnormally large snakes found in Central Africa. This is despite the Congo having the perfect climate for these snakes.
As far as urban legends go, this one is different. Remy Van Lierde was a colonel with the Belgian Air Force. Not just some person spreading rumors to tourists to bring in exotic animal hunters.
And it wasn’t just Col. Remy Van Lierde who claims to have seen the snake. As Forrest Galante tells the story, Colonel Van Lierde had two passengers in the plane and they circled back three times to get a better look.
They even claim the snake attempted to strike the plane. A detail that seems doubtful, in my humble opinion, and seems to cast doubt on the existence of a 50-foot snake in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Here is an interview with Colonel Remy Van Lierde himself. He says they made several passes (between 4 and 6) in order to take a picture of the 50-foot snake. You can see the infamous picture of the 50-foot snake in this clip:
It is believed the 50-foot snake had a 3′ x 2′ triangular head. Absolutely massive.
Later in the interview with Joe Rogan, they discuss other massive snakes. And here is Forrest Galante swimming with a massive anaconda:
Forrest certainly has one of the most interesting jobs in television. You have to give him that.
A 50 foot long Giant Snake was spotted in the Congo… 🐍 pic.twitter.com/fwHl1C53XC
— Fight Haven (@FightHaven) March 26, 2023