Conservancy of Southwest Florida documents largest Burmese python in Florida
The Floridant/10188566

NAPLES, Fla. - Floridant -- The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has announced record-breaking developments in its invasive Burmese python research program with the documentation of the largest python found to date in Florida. The female python measured nearly 18 feet in length and weighed in at 215 pounds.

A team of wildlife biologists at the conservancy recently discovered and captured the python through its nationally recognized research program, which uses radio transmitters implanted in male "scout" snakes to understand python movements, breeding behaviors and habitat use.

Another record-breaking discovery was the number of eggs carried by the snake. During the necropsy, researchers encountered a record 122 developing eggs within the snake's abdomen. This finding sets a new limit for the highest number of eggs a female python can potentially produce in a breeding cycle.

The discovery, which was recently documented by National Geographic, highlights the continued impact of the invasive species, which is known for rapid reproduction and depletion of surrounding native wildlife.

"the removal of female pythons plays a critical role in disrupting the breeding cycle of these predators that are wreaking havoc on the everglades ecosystem," Bartoszek adds. "this is the wildlife issue of our time for southern Florida."

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The conservancy's python program has been able to remove over 1,000 pythons weighing more than 26,000 pounds of adult pythons from approximately 100 square miles in southwestern Florida.

The conservancy's team of researchers has removed several record-breaking large snakes through its targeted removal technique. Prior to this recent finding, the largest female python removed through the conservancy's program weighed 185 pounds and was the heaviest python captured to date in Florida at the time.

Funding for the conservancy's python research and removal program is provided through the Naples zoo conservation fund, the fish and wildlife foundation of Florida, south Florida water management district and private philanthropy. The conservancy collaborates with rookery bay national estuarine research reserve, collier Seminole state park, united states geological survey and big cypress national preserve for radio-telemetry research and removal efforts.

To report an invasive species sighting, the public is asked to call 1-888-ive-got1 or report via the "ivegot1" mobile app. Visit www.conservancy.org (http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=nmhlule6yeocb7o2uusxsnebvn-2fsccbbj3negaiegvitv-2bcvuyek-2bt7mu32-2bqsm6p1gl_svmltgkdoz5xwmvoq2p51itfwyoite0ikqewot40icag4c7ehdvpulxkjsupzpjy5zyyvns-2b4vsxasdcanarst9ugcattiycto1iibyvwswgpt43fqa4khmz...) to learn more or to become a member.

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About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida  is a nonprofit environmental protection organization focused on issues impacting water, land, wildlife and the future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida's world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy's work and how to support the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.