A shocking discovery of an 18-foot Burmese python, an invasive species in the Florida Everglades, devoured a five-foot alligator. Images of the snake being cut open, revealing a carnivorous alligator inside its stomach, have gone viral on social media.
18-Foot Burmese Python Eats 5-Foot Alligator
Geoscientist Rosie Moore uploaded a video on Instagram, which has garnered over 300,000 reactions. She told Fox 35 that the footage was taken a few months ago, though it is just now the video made the round.
On Instagram, she described the humongous snake as almost twenty feet and found a man-sized gator inside its belly. This large constrictor was caught in the sunshine state, not in a national park. It was euthanized and given to the lab to become a sample to be studied.
The viral video showed the scientists in the lab checking the contents of a distended stomach of the 18-foot Burmese python before cutting it open. Inside they were surprised to discover a five-foot alligator, which was not fully digested yet.
Florida Everglades Hosts Invasive Phytons
The geoscientist mentioned that this particular species of huge snake must be eliminated in the Florida Everglades. The reasons are that the local subtropical clime is conducive to the python's long-life span with a fast reproduction rate. Areas these large snakes have penetrated are those with sensitive ecosystems like the Everglades National Park. Local species are in danger from a predator.
According to WearTV, the yearly Florida Python Challenge was held to clear out this dangerous predator for Southern Florida. Since 2000, about 17,000 of these snakes have been taken from Florida.
Massive Alligator Lives in Shipping Container
A stir in Washington occurred as police deputies and animal control officers in Pierce County had a slight animal problem. A week ago, a video of them catching and taking away a massive gator that lived in a shipping container, according to NY Post.
A Facebook post by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department with animal control got a serious complaint that remarked an unnamed resident living in one of the properties in Lakebay had an alligator.
Soon as the authorities got the tip, the two agencies set out to verify the report. But the animals were not where it was reported to be. Although on a second occasion when they located it on October 20, when they deployed to check it out. Animal control went to the location and found the reptile inside a small tub in a shipping crate.
The Sheriff's office noted that inside the container was a very sick calf, with a mattress for the 32-year-old-owner to sleep in to be with the animals. A warrant was acquired to get the reptile and check the sick calf. They mentioned that alligators as pets are illegal in the state.
When the authorities returned the following day, they found the reptile, called Al, inside the container, but the man and calf were nowhere to be seen. The huge reptile measuring 6 feet and 7-inches, was taken from its tub while the mouth was taped shut.
Images in the video show the animal on a mover with the officers placing it in a transport. It was taken to the Tacoma Humane Society, a rehab sanctuary for the animal.
