Malaysia’s Civil Defence Force on April 7 captured a python, believed to be the largest snake ever to be captured alive, from a construction site in Penang, a busy tourist destination.

The eight metre long reticulated python weighing 250kg was discovered on a flyover on the island’s Paya Terubong district and was captured after a 30 minute operation, reports International Business Times.

Reticulated pythons are the longest reptile species, and are estimated to have a range of length from 1.5 to 6.5 m (4.9 to 21.3 ft) and a weight range between 1 to 75 kg.

Herme Herisyam from Malaysia's Civil Defence Force confirmed the estimated measurements of this mammoth snake to the Guardian newspaper, reports International Business Times.

The mammoth snake, weighing 250kg, was found on an uncompleted flyover. Photo: Malaysian Civil Defence Force

A dozen men were seen holding the snake in a photo shared by the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.

In another photo, uniformed members of the civil defence brigade can be seen carrying the snake over their shoulders while one man holds its head.

Prior to the discovery of this snake in Malaysia, the largest reticulated Python in the world was Medusa, which measured to a length of 7.67 metres (25 feet, 2 inches) in its official Guinness world record measurement on October 12, 2011.

Medusa is owned by a recreational establishment, the Full Moon Productions in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.