The Nature Foundation assisted the police and prosecutor’s office to take a large snake (Burmese Phython of almost 4 m) which was held as a pet in a small enclosure (max 3 by 3 feet). According to the ‘Algemene PolitieKeur’ Article 29 it is prohibited to keep wild animals without a permit of the minister, therefore the prosecutor decided to seize the snake. Besides, there are high risks to the environment and native species if the snake escapes or is (accidentally) released into he wild. Pythons can easily eat birds (even large ones), mammals, other pets or bite humans.
If the snake would escape or be released, it could seriously damage the native species on St. Maarten. These snakes can reproduce quickly, establish themselves as a population and are known to be invasive, females can lay clutches of up to 100 eggs a time. The concern of the Nature Foundation is to end up as Aruba, this country has large problems due to the invasive boa constrictor population. The Boa constrictor is not a native snake on Aruba, however nearly every day specimens up to 2 meters long are captured. Most likely irresponsible owners of pet Boa constrictors released their animals in the wild, causing the population to settle. These boas are fast breeders and adapt well on the environment of Aruba, causing snakes to show up everywhere. Besides, these snakes have no natural enemies on islands such as Aruba and St. Maarten, having no means to keep populations in check. The bird population seems to be particularly at risk due to pythons and boas. The Foundation wants to prevent snake species to escape to the wild and end up as an unsolvable problem, like Aruba has.
Besides, a loose snake can cause danger to the safety of our people, as it can eat small pets, it could attack people and bite them, which is very painful. Burmese Pythons kill by constriction, grasping a victim with their sharp teeth, coiling their bodies around the animal, and squeezing until it suffocates. They have stretchy ligaments in their jaws that allow them to swallow all their food whole. The Python which was confiscated is healthy and very docile as it is used to be handled as pet since young, however behavior can change when released or when the snake is hungry, or their babies could show different behavior.
The enclosure of a Burmese Python needs to be quite large, as they are ground dwellers, their enclosure should be much longer than it is tall and will need a warm, humid environment. As the snake is estimated to be 4 meters, the enclosure should be something like 5 by 2 meters at least, to make the snake able to stretch out totally and move.
The owner has been given a chance by the prosecutor to find a new legal and humane home for the snake outside our island, the Nature Foundation is willing to assist. As the python grew up in captivity, zoo’s in other countries could be a feasible option, people who know a viable option can report it to the nature foundation viainfo@naturefoundationsxm.org.
Wild populations of Burmese pythons are considered to be “threatened” in their home countries; therefore, the species is listed on Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). CITES Annex ll species are species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. According to the convention bringing a snake to St. Maarten without the proper CITES export permits is considered illegal and part of the illegal wildlife trade. In order to leave the country of Sint Maarten the Burmese Python needs a CITES re-export certificate, however permits can only be issued when in line with the CITES convention.
The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia but is found as an invasive species elsewhere. The snake is famous for his invasion in south Florida (Everglades) and is now established there as a population. The python is popular for the (illegal) pet trade. The importation of Burmese pythons was banned in the United States in January 2012 due to its negative impact on the native species in this area, as birds, foxes and rabbits disappear from areas invaded by this python and population of deer, raccoons, coyote are threatened. This python eats mainly birds and mammals. It is often found near human habitation due to the presence of rats and mice as a food source. The IUCN has recently listed the Burmese python as “vulnerable”, reflecting its overall population decline. Important reasons for the decline are trade for skins and for food; habitat degradation may be a problem in some upland areas.
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FAQs
How Many Pythons Were Removed in the 2022 Florida Python Challenge? During the 10-day competition, a total of 231 invasive Burmese pythons were removed — 8 more than in 2021. Matthew Concepcion caught 28 Burmese pythons to win the 2022 Ultimate Grand Prize and $10,000 in prize money.
Does St Maarten have snakes? ›
The reptiles on Saint Martin could be grouped into several categories: common and frequently seen, common but rarely seen, recently introduced, and probably extinct. More scientifically, including species that are possibly extinct here, there are eleven species of lizard, two snakes and one tortoise.
What does Florida do with the pythons that are captured? ›
Pythons must be humanely killed onsite at the time of capture. Live transport of pythons is not allowed.
What caused the python invasion? ›
Between 1996 and 2006, roughly 99,000 pythons were imported into the United States as pets. It's believed the pythons began breeding in the wild as a result of two primary causes: irresponsible pet owners releasing them and the animals escaping their loosely-kept cages as a result of hurricane or stormy weather.
What's the biggest python caught on record? ›
A 19-foot Burmese python — the longest ever recorded — was caught by local hunters in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve this week. To put the catch into perspective, the snake is as long as an adult giraffe is tall.
How long does the python challenge last? ›
The Florida Python Challenge® is an exciting conservation effort which helps protect the rare Everglades habitat and the animals that live there from these invasive, nonnative snakes. The python removal competition begins at 12:01 a.m. on August 4, 2023 and ends at 5 p.m. on August 13, 2023. Register now!
Is St Maarten safe now? ›
A French-Dutch-divided island in the Caribbean Sea, Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) is only 33 square miles large, with pleasant weather year-round. St. Maarten is considered “friendly” and just as safe as most other island destinations, especially in the main tourist areas of the island.
Is St Martin safe at night? ›
Maarten is a safe place at night for many tourists. The crime rate is very low in St. Maarten and most places on the island are safe and secure at night. However, it is recommended to avoid walking alone in certain areas at night time such as in the main city of Philipsburg.
What island has the most snakes in the world? ›
Just off the coast of Brazil lies the tiny island of Gueimada Grande, or “Snake Island” as it is more commonly known. Despite beautiful luscious forest and rocky terrain, this is not an island you would wish to stumble upon! Over it's 106 acres it is home to aproximately 430,000 deadly vipers.
How much do people get paid to catch pythons in Florida? ›
So how much do you get paid to hunt the Florida Python? An hourly rate ($10.00 per hour or $15.00 per hour depending on the area) for up to ten (10) hours each day while actively searching for pythons on designated lands.
The longest and heaviest snake to ever be held in captivity was a female reticulated python called Medusa. Held in the USA, Medusa reached 7.67 metres long and weighed 158.8 kilograms. Green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) are also exceptionally long snakes.
Can you eat python meat? ›
While very chewy, Kalil said the white meat of the python can be used in recipes that normally call for chicken or pork.
Why don t they just shoot the pythons in Florida? ›
Burmese pythons are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law. There is an ethical and legal obligation to ensure a Burmese python is killed in a humane manner.
What kills pythons in the wild? ›
Small, young pythons may be attacked and eaten by a variety of birds, wild dogs and hyenas, large frogs, large insects and spiders, and even other snakes. But adult pythons are also at risk from birds of prey and even lions and leopards.
How do you stop a python invasion? ›
The main way to prevent the problem of invasive species like the Burmese python is to stop transporting them to new ecosystems. The Burmese python escaped captivity both during destruction of their holding facilities during hurricane storms and by pet owners releasing them.
How did Concepcion win $10,000? ›
Nineteen-year-old Matthew Concepcion killed 28 invasive snakes this year during the annual Burmese python hunt in Florida, earning him the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced.
What happens to all the pythons caught in the Everglades? ›
The Python Elimination Program started in 2017 and incentivizes a limited number of public-spirited individuals to humanely euthanize these destructive snakes which have become an invasive apex predator in the Everglades.
How many pythons were captured in the Everglades this year? ›
A record-breaking 231 invasive Burmese pythons were removed from the Greater Everglades Ecosystem during the 2022 Florida Python Challenge®, marking the largest number of destructive snakes ever captured as part of the annual competition.
How many pythons are caught in the Everglades? ›
No one knows how many of these giant snakes now infest south Florida, but estimates range from 100,000 to more than a million, said Kevin Donmoyer, an invasive-species biologist at Everglades National Park. Paid contractors and others have killed about 9,000 snakes since 2017, when the hunting program started.
