SOUTH FLORIDA — The invasive python problem in Florida is getting out of hand, leading the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to call in a couple ringers to get the job done. <br /> <br />Between 2002-2012, more than 2000 Burmese pythons were pulled out of the Everglades, but at the rate they breed, that number has skyrocketed since then. As part of a series of “unique projects” commissioned by the FWC, two snake wranglers from India have been flown in to take a crack at the massive snake problem. <br /> <br />Masi Sadaiyan and Vadivel Gopal are members of the Irula tribe, having made their living by catching rats and snakes back home. With the help of some python-detecting labrador retrievers, the duo will be working to catch as many snakes as possible over a two-month span. So far, they have done an expert job of seeking out the slithery serpents, capturing 15 pythons in their first two weeks on the prowl, the largest a 16-foot female. <br /> <br />An invasive species, Burmese pythons have been wreaking havoc on South Florida’s ecosystem for roughly three decades, killing and competing with native species. If the Irula tribesman can put a dent in Florida’s python population, estimated at roughly 5,000-10,000 today, maybe you’ll see a few more Indian snake hunters walking around the Everglades, and a lot less snakes.
