Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Who said that?

"We have recorded a 99 percent reduction of fur-bearing animals."

-- Michael Kirkland, Invasive Animal Biologist at South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

Florida's Everglades are known internationally for their alligators, but now another reptile has become king: the invasive Burmese python. Native to South and Southeast Asia, the snake species was first sighted in the Florida Everglades in the 1970s, after irresponsible pet owners released them into the ecosystem.

The subtropical environment, with its ideal temperatures and abundance of defenseless prey, helped their population explode. Today, the consequences are being felt.

Read more at Deutsche Welle.