27kg Burmese python wrestles with hunter

A nearly 4-metre-long female Burmese python, possibly about to lay eggs, was killed by hunters in an effort to eradicate the invasive alien species.

Mike Kimmel, a wildlife rescuer and invasive species trapper, caught a large Burmese python just before midnight while driving home from a night of hunting in Florida, Newsweek reported on May 10. The incident was captured on video by Kimmel's camera crew and posted online, attracting thousands of views.

The female Burmese python was nearly 13 feet long and weighed more than 60 pounds. Kimmel spotted the animal on the side of the road, among the bushes, using a high-powered flashlight mounted on his car. He quickly got out of the car and gave chase.

Kimmel eventually caught the snake and began a struggle that lasted several minutes. The hunter tried to control the Burmese python as it tried to defend itself, even trying to wrap around and bite him. "Burmese pythons, especially big ones like this, are very strong. They have solid muscles. I handled the animal in a way that it would tire itself out," Kimmel said.

One of the dangers to watch out for when handling a python is its long, curved teeth. “You definitely want to avoid getting bitten. They can cause all sorts of neurological damage,” Kimmel says.

Based on the thickness of the snake, it was likely carrying eggs and looking for a nesting site. After capturing Burmese pythons, as in this case, Kimmel euthanizes them on site, following Florida's invasive species guidelines. Specifically, he shoots the pythons directly in the brain.

The Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) is a large python native to Southeast Asia, but is now also found in South Florida, primarily in the Everglades, as an invasive species. The local environment here is suitable for them.

Burmese pythons are a major threat to native wildlife by preying on a wide range of birds and mammals, including some that are endangered in the United States. Severe declines in some small mammal populations in Florida have been linked to Burmese pythons.

Determining the exact size of Florida's Burmese python population is nearly impossible because they are so difficult to spot. Experts estimate the population to be anywhere from a few tens of thousands to 100,000 or more. Burmese pythons are nonvenomous and can grow to about 20 feet long, with the record in Florida being over 18 feet.

Thu Thao (According to Newsweek )

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