The 1959 Congo Snake Sighting: Remy Van Lierde's Encounter with a Colossal Serpent

In 1959, Belgian helicopter pilot Col. Remy Van Lierde was conducting a routine patrol flight over the Congo when he witnessed an encounter that would become one of the most debated cryptozoological claims of the 20th century. While flying at altitude, Van Lierde spotted an enormous serpent moving through the landscape below—a discovery he immediately documented through photography.

The creature that Remy Van Lierde observed demonstrated remarkable proportions. The snake measured an estimated 50 feet (15 meters) in length, with a dark brown-to-green coloration accented by a distinctive white underside. Most striking was its unusual head structure: a pyramid-like jaw formation paired with a cranium measuring approximately 3 by 2 feet. These specific physical characteristics made the sighting particularly notable among similar accounts.

What transformed this sighting from mere observation into a significant incident was what happened next. As Van Lierde descended the helicopter to obtain a closer examination, the enormous serpent exhibited a defensive posture, rising approximately 10 feet (3 meters) from the ground. The Belgian pilot’s assessment was chilling—had his aircraft been within the creature’s striking range, an attack would have been inevitable. This behavioral response suggested the animal was capable of aggressive action when threatened.

The photograph captured by Remy Van Lierde underwent rigorous analysis and was subsequently authenticated as genuine by experts. Rather than dismissing the account as mere folklore, the verification process lent credibility to Van Lierde’s firsthand testimony and the photographic evidence, cementing the 1959 Congo sighting as a pivotal moment in discussions of undiscovered large fauna.