The concept of being swallowed complete by an animal appears like one thing straight out of a horror film, or perhaps a biblical story.
However as unusual because it sounds, there are a number of creatures on the market that truly have the bodily capacity to gulp down a human in a single terrifying chew (or a minimum of, in a single drawn-out swallow). Whereas uncommon, these encounters have been documented, particularly in distant components of the world.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the animals that would, and in some instances, have swallowed people complete.
Story continues beneath this advert
Reticulated python
If there’s one creature on Earth that’s been confirmed to swallow people complete, it’s this one. Native to Southeast Asia, the reticulated python can develop over 25 ft lengthy. Due to extremely versatile jaws and an elastic physique, these snakes are constructed to eat prey far bigger than their heads recommend, together with full-grown people.
There have been a number of confirmed instances in recent times. In 2017, a person in Indonesia vanished whereas harvesting palm oil. Villagers later discovered his physique inside a 23-foot python.
Extra incidents have surfaced since, all in rural components of Indonesia, the place folks reside near forests which can be dwelling to those predators.
Reticulated pythons kill by constriction, squeezing the life out of their prey earlier than slowly swallowing it, headfirst.
Story continues beneath this advert
Inexperienced anaconda
The inexperienced anaconda, present in South America, is the world’s heaviest snake. It’s able to overpowering animals like capybaras, caimans, and even jaguars. In principle, this snake might swallow a human, however thus far, no confirmed instances exist.
Loads of legends exist within the Amazon about large anacondas swallowing folks, however with out concrete proof, it stays folklore. That stated, consultants agree the dimensions and energy of the inexperienced anaconda might make it potential.
Native to Southeast Asia, the reticulated python can develop over 25 ft lengthy (Supply: Pexels)
Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles reside dinosaurs, the biggest reptiles on Earth, with some males exceeding 20 ft. They don’t swallow prey complete as usually as snakes do, however their huge dimension and chew drive make it theoretically potential.
They’ve been recognized to kill people in rivers and coastal waters, particularly in components of Australia and Southeast Asia. Whereas most victims are torn aside or drowned first, smaller people might doubtlessly be swallowed, although no clear, documented instances of a croc consuming a whole human physique complete have emerged.
Story continues beneath this advert
Sperm whale
Sperm whales have monumental heads and mouths, which they use to hunt large squid deep within the ocean. Their throats are massive sufficient to accommodate a human, however there’s no report of 1 ever doing so.
In principle, if an individual have been within the fallacious place on the fallacious time, a sperm whale might by chance swallow them. However these whales don’t hunt people, and there’s no proof one ever has.
Humpback whale
From time to time, a whale by chance scoops up a human, often a diver or kayaker, whereas feeding. Humpback whales are filter feeders, taking in large gulps of water and filtering it for krill. Their mouths are large, however their throats? Not a lot.
There was a case in 2021 the place a lobster diver in Cape Cod, Michael Packard, was briefly trapped inside a humpback’s mouth earlier than being spit out. He survived, shaken however unhurt. One other comparable incident occurred with a kayaker in Chile in 2025. In each instances, the whales shortly realised their mistake and let go.
Story continues beneath this advert
Hippopotamus
Hippos are among the many deadliest animals in Africa, however not as a result of they eat folks. With jaws robust sufficient to crush bone and mouths massive sufficient to suit a human torso, they will do critical harm.
One of the crucial harrowing tales is from Paul Templer, a river information in Zimbabwe who was partially swallowed by a hippo throughout a 1996 assault. He lived, however misplaced an arm. Hippos don’t eat meat, however they’re fiercely territorial and able to deadly encounters.
