Five Hunters Capture Nearly 200-Pound, 17-Foot Burmese Python in Florida, Second Heaviest in State History

Unlikely Team of Five Wrestle with 'Monster' Python for 45 Minutes in Big Cypress National Preserve to Subdue Invasive Species, Second Heaviest Ever Captured in Florida.

A 198-lb Burmese python was captured in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida by a team of five hunters. The python measures 17 feet 2 inches long and 23 inches in girth, making it the second heaviest ever caught in the state.
The team, comprising of conservationist Mike Elfenbein, his son Cole, and three other men, wrestled with the enormous snake for approximately 45 minutes before they were able to subdue it. Despite all five men sitting on top of the snake, it was reportedly still able to lift its body off the ground.
Professional python hunter Amy Siewe was summoned to the scene to collect the captured snake. The snake was later put down with a bolt gun, an approved euthanasia device, and transported to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida where its weight was confirmed.
The massive python is believed to have grown so large due to feeding on the local wildlife. Elfenbein stated that he was glad the python had been removed from the Everglades where it could no longer pose a threat to the local wildlife.
The Burmese python has become an invasive species in Florida, causing widespread damage to the local ecosystem. Despite ongoing attempts to control the population, researchers believe complete eradication of the species in southern Florida is likely impossible.