A man fearlessly wrestled the longest-ever Burmese python on record – and won.
Florida native Jake Waleri, 22, spotted the 19-foot-long and 125-pound python in the Big Cypress National Preserve at 1am on July 10.
A video shared by the duo Glades Boys, which Waleri is part of, shows him grab the body of a massive python to prevent it from slithering into a grassy area. The python retaliates by lunging at Waleri on the road.
After the python takes a bite at the air, Waleri grabs it by the neck near its head with his right hand and then clasps it with his other hand.
Waleri rolls around on the ground with the python as it coils around his shoulder and right side. The python viciously continues to open its mouth, until Waleri is able to force it shut and gets on his knees and then stands up claiming victory in the battle. Meanwhile, another man holds the end of its body.
‘Giant is an understatement for this beast,’ wrote the Glades Boys on Instagram on Thursday.
‘Even just being able to see a snake this large would be a dream, but to be a part of this World Record is something I never could have imagined.’
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida confirmed that the python measuring 19 feet long set a new world record.
Burmese pythons average six to nine feet long, which is one-third of the length of the one Waleri wrestled. Originally from Asia, they are an invasive species in South Florida that eat mammals and threaten wildlife in the state.
Florida allows hunters to capture and humanely kill Burmese pythons, which have been decimating bobcats, raccoons and other animals.
The Glades Boys also thanked fellow professional python hunter Amy Siewe who provided ‘huge relief when she taped up the mouth’.
They killed the python, as wildlife officials recommend. The snake was longer than the lengths of both Waleri and his partner-in-crime Stephen Gauta lying down.
Despite numerous comments by Instagram users shunning the Glades Boys for capturing and killing the wild animal, they continued to post and share videos of the encounter.
‘Even just being able to see a snake this large would be a dream, but to be a part of this World Record is something I never could have imagined,’ they wrote. ‘Can’t wait to see what the future brings, but for now @gladesboys are on top.’
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