Wildlife experts faced significant challenges in capturing a 90 kg Burmese python in Florida. This is an invasive species that the United States is struggling to eradicate.
Wildlife experts had a tough time controlling and capturing the large Burmese python. (Photo: Mike Elfenbein).
The large Burmese python was discovered by wildlife experts lying in the grass by the roadside in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, USA. Initially, the team mistakenly thought it was a large alligator, but upon closer observation, they realized it was a Burmese python.
“It’s not just a python; it’s truly a monster,” Mike Elfenbein, a member of the wildlife expert team that discovered the python, shared about the moment of confrontation with the animal.
After realizing it was a Burmese python, Carter Gavlock—another team member—immediately rushed to grab the animal’s tail to prevent it from escaping. However, the python quickly resisted, trying to slither down a nearby canal to hide, almost dragging Gavlock with it.
“That was a serious mistake because the python nearly pulled him into the canal. Clearly, he couldn’t stop such a large python on his own,” Elfenbein recounted.
Only when five adult members of the wildlife expert team rushed over and sat on the python did it finally stop moving. Nevertheless, these experts had to struggle significantly to fully subdue and capture the large snake.
The Burmese python was later found to weigh up to 90 kg and measure 5.2 m in length. This is the second largest Burmese python ever captured in Florida. The current record is held by a Burmese python captured in 2022, weighing 98 kg and measuring 5.5 m.
“To reach such a size, this Burmese python has consumed a lot of native wildlife. It’s a relief that the animal has been captured and can no longer prey on our wildlife,” Mike Elfenbein shared.
This python will be humanely euthanized by wildlife experts.
