Previous length for the longest Burmese Python in Florida was 17ft, 7in
The female snake was not carrying eggs, researchers said
The Pythons are responsible for killing many small animals in the one million acre Everglades
PUBLISHED: 21:29, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:44, 20 May 2013
The biggest ever Python snake found in Florida, measuring 18 feet and 8 inches long, has been captured and killed.
The 128lb giant female reptile broke the previous record by over a foot.
The Burmese Python, an invasive species to the Florida Everglades, was found and killed by Jason Leon in a rural area southeast of Miami.
He managed to snare the snake after seeing part of its body sticking out the undergrowth.
With the help of a friend he killed the snake with a knife. According to University of Florida scientists, the snake was not carrying eggs.
Florida Wildlife officials later told him it was the biggest ever recorded in the state. The previous longest was 17ft and seven inches.
Leon said: 'For about 10 minutes, he was wrapping around my legs, around my arms. I was switching arms, and finally. We finally pulled him apart, stretched him out, and took a knife and cut his head.'
'I knew that it was a big snake and I've never seen it in the wild. I knew it didn't belong there. I knew they had to be removed so I grabbed it.'
The snake was later given to the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center for a necropsy.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee, recently sanctioned a hunt to try and rid the Everglades of the pythons.
Big guy huh.....
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