There's nothing like the Florida Everglades, a stunning tropical wetlands where the circle of life occasionally resembles a fever dream from the folks at the Syfy Channel.
But unlike the infamous bursting-python-vs-gator event of 2006, this time it seems home court advantage came in handy: an alligator was snapped making off with a fresh catch of invasive Burmese python in this photo submitted to park officials by visitor Steve Greene:
The pythons, which are native to Southeast Asia, are among the world's largest snakes and have been multiplying in the Everglades for years. Biologists believe the population originated with snakes released in the wild by irresponsible exotic pet owners and suspect the slithering creatures to be behind near-total drops in the population of several native Everglades residents like raccoons, opossums, and bobcats.
Aside from alligators, the pythons have also been known to take down larger 'Glades natives including a fully intact Key deer. Earlier this year, a Miami caught the largest python captured near the Everglades yet: an 18-foot, 8-inch female that weighed nearly 130 pounds. Shudder!
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