Large Burmese pythons are known to eat alligators in Florida’s Everglades region. But sometimes the opposite is true.
The accompanying footage, captured Nov. 28, shows a large gator swimming across a pond with a giant python in its jaws.
“This is one of the coolest, most impressive sights I have had the pleasure of seeing since working in Everglades National Park,” Florida Findings declared Monday via Facebook. “Our biggest alligator in the Shark Valley [Trail] Loop, about 12 feet in length, dragging an invasive Burmese Python that is at least twice his size.”
ABC News, crediting Kelly Alvarez and Storyful for the footage, stated via Instagram: “Visitors to Florida’s Everglades National Park were stunned to see an alligator swimming with its catch — a Burmese python so large it even stunned the tour guides.”
The extraordinary footage has been widely shared since Monday.
In Florida, non-native Burmese pythons pose a significant threat to native wildlife, including small gators. They can be hunted without permits as the state attempts to reduce their numbers and slow their spread.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the longest alligator recorded in Florida measured 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches. The weight record is 1,043 pounds.
The longest Burmese python captured in Florida measured 19 feet and weighed 125 pounds.
