A 4.8-meter Burmese Python Captured in Florida Nature Reserve by Snake Expert Josh Turner.
Video: Newsweek
On the night of January 19, Turner and his wife discovered the gigantic python slithering among the bushes in Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. The snake expert from the Everglades Python Snatchers organization managed to capture the 40-kilogram python using only his bare hands while his wife recorded the entire process.
“It’s incredibly exciting when you encounter a python, especially one as large as this. They are very strong and each has its own personality. This python is a warrior,” Turner shared.
Turner capturing the massive python by hand.
The Burmese python is one of the largest snake species in the world. They are native to Southeast Asia. Although classified as a vulnerable species in their native habitat by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are considered an invasive species in Florida and pose a threat to local wildlife.
The Burmese python population was first reported in Florida in 2000. Experts believe they are either escaped pets or were intentionally released by their owners. The sightings of Burmese pythons have become increasingly common. Just last week, a massive female python was seen crossing a road in Everglades National Park during the day.
Turner is a python hunter for the South Florida Water Management District. He has been hunting this invasive reptile for four years. The python in the video was still alive and was handed over to state authorities for euthanasia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The examination process will help researchers better understand Burmese pythons.
