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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It’s official, the Florida Python Problem this yr has a winner.
The $10,000 grand prize went to Ronald Kiger, who eliminated 20 Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades in the course of the 10-day hunt, which was meant to bring awareness to the threat that these pythons pose to the ecosystem. Final yr, he was the direct runner-up to the grand prize winner.
Representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee introduced Kiger’s win in a Tuesday morning assembly in Duck Key. This yr, more than 800 people from 33 states and Canada participated within the problem, and hunters eliminated 195 Burmese pythons from the wild.
The remainder of the prize cash was divided amongst rivals within the contest’s three classes: novice, skilled and navy. Donna Kalil was one python away from a tie with Kiger. Kalil, a contractor with the South Florida Water Administration District, received a $2,500 prize for catching 19 pythons within the skilled class.
Additionally within the skilled class, Marcos Rodriguez caught 16 pythons for the prize of $1,500, and Quentin Archie received a $1,000 prize for catching the longest python on this class at 8 ft 11 inches (2.7 meters).
Thomas Hobbs received $2,500 for main the novice class by catching 16 Burmese pythons, whereas Dennis Krum caught the longest python on this class and in addition in the whole competitors, at 9 ft 11 inches (3 meters).
Jeff Lince caught 5 pythons, profitable $2,500 within the navy class, and Antonio Ramos received $1,000 for catching the longest python on this group at 9 ft 7 inches (2.9 meters).
The problem occurred in mid-August. Hunters have been tasked with humanely killing the Burmese pythons and turning within the carcasses to any of the competition’s three verify stations in South Florida.
The problem wasn’t simply meant for hunters to win the share of about $25,000 in prizes. It additionally served to boost consciousness concerning the risks of Burmese pythons, like how they have an effect on native snakes, can unfold ailments amongst native animals and have excessive mercury ranges which are harmful for human consumption.
“Over 14,000 pythons have been efficiently eliminated by FWC and South Florida Water Administration District contractors since 2017,” stated Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee, in a information launch. “This collective effort continues to have a direct constructive affect on the Everglades and our native wildlife by means of elimination and consciousness.”
This yr’s competitors was a little bit bit smaller in comparison with final yr. In 2023, greater than 1,000 hunters participated and 209 pythons have been eliminated.
Hunters contracted with the state’s wildlife fee and the South Florida Water Administration District work year-round to take away the invasive pythons from the wild. A feminine python can lay about 50 to 100 eggs at a time, which is why the competitors is held throughout hatching season in August. Based on the wildlife company, about 22,000 pythons have been faraway from the state since 2000.
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