Tourist Nightmare: Giant Snakes Take Over Popular Nature Reserve

Giant Burmese pythons have taken over the Florida Everglades, wiping out local wildlife and threatening the ecosystem. Nature authorities are running training programs, hunting competitions, and using tracking dogs to curb the spread.

Giant Burmese pythons have taken over the Florida Everglades, one of the most popular tourist and nature destinations in the United States. The snakes, native to India and southern China, were brought to the country in the 1970s as a result of the pet trade and accidental or intentional releases, and have since become a destructive invasive species. Estimates speak of tens of thousands of snakes roaming the area, with a single female capable of laying up to 100 eggs per year and reaching lengths of six meters. Studies show a dramatic decline in local wildlife populations: raccoons dropped by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and foxes by 87.5% between 1997 and 2012. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission operates a free public training program, an annual hunting competition called the "Python Challenge" with cash prizes, and the use of tracking dogs such as black Labrador and Pointer. Next steps include considering the deployment of infrared cameras to improve detection.