Python hunters: Fierce competition in Florida environment challenge

People do not only lead intense lives in Australia. In the state of Florida in the USA, the Florida Python Challenge is currently underway, and participants are tasked with exterminating as many pythons as possible.

The contest, which involves the killing of pythons, sounds controversial and simultaneously dangerous. It seems like a challenge that might have its roots in ancient rituals or festivals. Or it could simply take place in Australia, where seeing scorpions, snakes, or crocodiles is not particularly surprising.

Florida Python Challenge is taking place, however, as the name suggests, in Florida, United States. The brave souls who decide to participate in this event are tasked with exterminating as many Burmese pythons as possible.

Burmese pythons are an invasive species in the ecosystem of the Everglades National Park. The snakes disrupt the environmental balance and prey on species naturally found in these areas of Florida. For 10 years, the state's green policy has been conducting activities to raise public awareness about these animals. The Florida Python Challenge emerged from an educational program. Although it seems grim, as the officials assure, it is essential to maintain balance in the fauna and flora resources of the Everglades.

This year, 600 people are participating in the contest, including hunters from different states in the USA and one volunteer from Canada. Anyone can compete, from amateurs to military personnel or hunters, and be rewarded in separate categories. The prize for killing the longest snake is $1,000 (approximately $1,300 CAD), and for killing the largest number of snakes - $2,500 (approximately $3,300 CAD). Winning in the open category is a bigger deal: the most effective hunter will take home as much as $10,000 (about $13,200 CAD). The "open" hunt lasts for 10 days. During last year's contest, participants "caught" 209 Burmese pythons.