"Real-life Tarzan" (Mike Holston), an American wildlife influencer with tens of millions of followers, filmed a video in Indonesia where he wrestled bare-handed with a 5.8-meter-long, 90-kilogram reticulated python. The video has sparked continuous controversy since its release.
Mike claims to be a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt. In the video, the giant python lunges at him several times. He steps forward to pin the snake's head, but the python immediately wraps its thick body around him, tightening continuously. The scene is extremely dangerous. Ultimately, Mike uses his technique to flip the python and subdue it.
Afterward, he admitted that he nearly suffocated during the struggle and joked that the giant python possessed "black belt" level skills in the jungle.
It is reported that reticulated pythons are among the largest snakes in existence, possessing immense explosive power. Their powerful constriction can compress the chest cavity and block breathing. Once the constriction gets out of control, it can easily cause death. Even for those with fighting skills, it is not advisable to engage them in close combat.
Although Mike managed to escape safely and the video had strong entertainment value, many netizens were not impressed.
Some criticize him for risking his life purely to film thrilling videos for traffic, which could mislead some viewers into imitating dangerous behavior. Many others accuse this forced wrestling with wild animals of being abuse, causing significant stress and harm to the wildlife.
The video is currently spreading on social media platforms, with public opinion generally calling on platforms to restrict such content that seeks traffic by dangerously wrestling with wild animals.
