FLORIDA PHOENIX reports— DeSantis: Python removal tripled since partnering with leather company

ORIGINALLY REPORTED BY LIV CAPUTO for The Florida Phoenix Read Full Article

“Florida officials have tripled the number of invasive Burmese pythons removed in a year since partnering with a leather company that turns invasive species into fashion, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.

‘As of today, we can celebrate the fact that they delivered on their objective, one and a half years ahead of schedule. That’s right. In the first three months since transitioning to the program with Inversa … [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] and Inversa have tripled the number of python removals,’ DeSantis announced.

‘We had 1,022 removals across May and July of this year compared to 343 removals during the same period last year. FWC management workload is down 89%, giving staff biologists valuable time,” he continued. ‘In the month of July alone, the program removed more pythons than the entire 12 months pre-transition. That’s incredible.’

The invasive snakes — which have no natural predator in South Florida — pose a heightened danger to the natural species in the Everglades, particularly to the three dozen threatened or endangered land and sea creatures residing in the massive national park.”

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