Storm drains are an underground system that, in large cities, are akin to a world beneath the city. This has also inspired many directors of horror and action films.
Not catching fish but discovering a giant python below
However, the appearance of a massive python beneath a storm drain is likely only to happen in Florida, USA. This is where the Burmese python, also known as the Indian python (scientific name: Python bivittatus), has become an invasive species threatening ecological balance.
The two anglers below, while preparing to cast their lines into the drain, were surprised to discover the python underneath. They then called a friend who specializes in snake handling to deal with the python. When they pulled it up, it turned out to be a python measuring 4.6 meters long.
The Indian python is a native species of Southeast Asia but has made its way to the United States and many other countries due to reptile enthusiasts keeping them as pets. These pythons have escaped into the wild when abandoned by their owners or due to severe storms.
It is estimated that between 30,000 to over 300,000 Burmese pythons inhabit the Everglades in Florida, prompting the U.S. Department of the Interior to issue a ban on the importation of this species in January 2012.
