Here at Wild Florida, not only are we passionate about Orlando airboat rides, but we also are passionate about the preservation and protection of Florida’s wildlife. Recently, a story broke in South Florida that a 17 foot Burmese Python was shot and killed in the Everglades by Florida officials. The Burmese Python has been known to be an elusive species, and they aren’t often found by humans in the wild. The 150-pound python was discovered while Water Management District Officials were performing a routine levee inspection.
This particular python is the second largest Burmese python in length to be caught in the wild in Florida, second to a python that measured 18 feet 8 inches long, according to Frank Mazzotti, a wildlife ecology professor at UF.
The UF ecology wildlife team examined the contents of the python’s stomach with no results. They also found 300 egg follicles, but there were no signs of actual reproduction.
Burmese pythons are normally native to Southeast. They are an invasive species that feed on native wildlife. They’ve since been a threat to the wildlife that resides in the Everglades, especially the endangered and threatened species. The number of Burmese pythons in Florida is unknown. Estimates range from tens of thousands to as many as 100,000, said Linda Friar, spokesperson for the Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, in an interview with USA TODAY Network.
To learn more about natural Florida wildlife and Orlando airboat rides, visit the Wild Florida Airboats website, and book a fun family day today.
