One Burmese Python lived in Florida’s Picayune Strand State Forest. Three men were required to transport it from Florida’s Everglades.
Researchers at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida captured this massive female python that turned out to weigh 215 pounds and measure 17.7 feet long – deeming it the largest python ever recorded in Florida—or anywhere outside its native range.
Douglas Main, Senior Writer and Editor at National Geographic said in an interview that the sheer scale of it was incredible. It’s almost as heavy as most people.
It is cool also because it highlights the success of using scouts snakes (male pythons that have GPS transmitters) to perform this technique. After the males are released, the snakes guide them towards large females.
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A large Burmese Python lived deep in Florida’s Picayune Strand State Forest. It was so big that three people had to lift it from the Everglades.
In December the giant snake was captured and put in a freezer to freeze until April. Rebecca Dzombak from National Geographic traveled to Naples in order to see the researchers performing a necropsy.
Dzombak noted that it took 48 hours for the carcass of to freeze.
Researchers began by taking a slice along the belly of the Python. Next, they cut through the ribs to get to the under fat layer.
Hidden in the body were 122 proto-eggs – the most ever found inside a python.
In December the huge snake was captured and killed. National Geographic photographer Rebecca Dzombak then traveled to Naples, Italy to see researchers do a necropsy. Hidden in the body were 122 proto-eggs (pictured) – the most ever found inside a python
The snake was also measured by researchers, who found its head to be nearly 6 inches long from the tips of her nose to the back.
However, they had yet to be fertilized.
Researchers believe that the python’s last food was an adult white-tailed elk.
Main stated that white tailed deer was the primary prey of endangered Florida panthers.
“So, this is worrying.”
Main stated to DailyMail.com that Main is currently working on an article about endangered panthers. He noted that only 200 of them live in Florida.
Researchers took multiple measurements on the snake. They found her head measuring nearly 6 inches long from her nose to her back. Her largest part measured 25 inches.
Tracking down wild females is possible with the help of scout Pythons. These males often make their way towards reproductive females during the breeding season. Sometimes, they even travel with groups of females.
Researchers found the female Python through Dion, a male Scout.
Since 2013, the Conservancy has successfully removed over 1,000 pythons totaling 25,000 lbs using this method.
Since 2000, Florida Fish & Wildlife has killed or removed over 15,000 pythons, with over 1,000 removed every year beginning in 2017. Another Burmese Python, measuring 17 feet long is shown in the picture.
‘Since 2000, Florida Fish & Wildlife has killed or removed over 15,000 pythons, with over 1,000 removed every year beginning in 2017. Scientists don’t know how many more might exist, Main shared.
Pythons, which are native to Southeast Asia and have caused havoc in Florida since the 1970s, are an invasive species.
Although the snakes arrived in Florida to be kept as pets, their owners eventually threw them away to allow them to reproduce and reach great lengths.
Researchers will be able to learn more about the female pythons that were lost in America after their death.
Main stated that they were difficult to locate and don’t have much information about their biology. This is ironic since they’re huge snakes.
He explained that the pythons eat 73 species of Florida plants.
Main claimed that Main had spoken of “24 mammals, 47 birds, and two types lizards”.
“All were found in Florida snakes and they are taking a great toll.”
It’s important to understand what their diet consists of. You can determine how many children they have by looking at the number of eggs. This will help you to figure out how many potential offspring and how much population growth could be achieved.
Although Florida officials aren’t sure how many pythons live in Florida, the current estimate ranges from 30,000-300,000.
Main stated that he found Pythons in every neighborhood and area of the country.
“Researchers stated that people would be shocked to learn how common they were.”