Burmese Python

Python bivittatus

Vulnerable

Size: may reach a length of 26 feet and a weight of more than 200 pounds.

Habitat: Tropical rainforests near water.

At the Zoo:  Asia Forest Aviary

Widely distributed across southeast Asia the number of Burmese pythons is decreasing largely because of habitat loss.   Here in the United States on the other hand, exotic pet owners who have purchased this snake from pet stores and have released unwanted pets in the wild have caused havoc to the natural environment.   Non-native Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in South Florida and are one of the most concerning invasive species over a thousand square mile area including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north including Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest. Pythons compete with native wildlife for food, which include mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Severe mammal declines in Everglades National Park have been linked to Burmese pythons.

According to the USGS the most severe declines in native species have occurred in the remote southernmost regions of Everglades National Park, where pythons have been established the longest. In a 2012 study, populations of raccoons had dropped 99.3 percent, opossums 98.9 percent, and bobcats 87.5 percent since 1997. Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes effectively disappeared.

One of the ways that people can help prevent the loss of native species is by advocating for legislation that would prevent pet stores from selling exotic species that could cause future problems if the animals they sell are released in the wild and by not purchasing exotic pets.   Once an invasive species whether it be an animal or plant is able to establish itself in the wild it is almost impossible to control it over time.

Photos
Top – Hannes Steyn, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom and Cover – Rushen, Wikimedia Creative Commons