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Last updated: August 27, 2012
First published: August 27, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer
Amazing Giant Snake Found in the Red Sea that killed 320 tourists and 125 Egyptian divers, has been killed by a professional team of elite Egyptian scientists and qualified divers.
Names of the scientists who participated in the process of catching the huge snake were: D. Karim Mohammed, d. Mohammed Sharif, d. Mr. Sea, d. Mahmoud students, d. Mazen Al-Rashidi.
And the names of the divers who participated in the process of catching the huge snake were: Ahmed leader, Abdullah Karim, fisherman Knight, Wael Mohammed, Mohammed Haridi, spears Alvajuma, Mahmoud Shafik, a full-Sharif. The Snake body has been transferred to in the Egypt morgue at Sharm El Sheikh international animal.
(Same image as shown above)
Detailed Analysis
This message, which is making its way around Facebook and the blogging community, features images showing a gigantic snake laid out on the back of a military transport vehicle. According to the description that comes with the images, the "amazing giant snake" was killed in the Red Sea, Egypt by an elite team of scientists and divers. But, claims the message, not before it killed no less than 320 tourists and 125 Egyptian divers. The message goes on to name the intrepid scientists and divers who captured the beast and claims that its body has now been moved to a morgue.
The claims in the message are complete nonsense and the images do not show an actual giant snake.
In fact, as tall tales go, this one is tall indeed. Of course, if a huge snake had really been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in Egypt, then the world's media would be in a frenzy on the story since the outset and it would have been widely reported by news outlets virtually everywhere. Especially if the giant beast had just been captured and killed as claimed. But, not at all surprisingly, there are no credible references whatsoever about the killer snake or its demise.
Moreover, the same pictures have circulated in another context in which it is claimed that the snake was captured in Iran rather than Egypt. The version below is translated from a Persian language forum post:
The giant snake know as "Mgamarmalad" , was found in a half-dead state 1 week ago Thursday 22 July 2012 near Karaj Dam . This snake which is about 43 meters long and 6 m wide, is the only survivor of its kind and scientists say it is 103 years old! Mgamarmalad reported that after receiving artificial respiration, in a better situation to move and soon will be on display at the zoo paradise.
The Iranian version makes no mention of killed divers or tourists and suggests that the snake is in fact still alive. (Although, it begs the question of how you would give artificial respiration to a 43 meter snake). Of course, the Iranian version is just as silly and fanciful as the Red Sea version.
As for the images, the truck and
and the soldier standing on the cab are clearly toys or models. It seems apparent that someone has simply draped a rubber snake - or perhaps a real but normal size snake - over a toy truck and then snapped some close-up photos that make the items seems large in comparison to their background. A simple trick that even inexperienced photographers could manage.
The instigator of the story probably created the images and description as a harmless prank. Nevertheless, there are at least a few wide-eyed recipients out there that are apparently swallowing the story
hook, line and sinker.
References
Giant snake know as "Mgamarmalad"