An animal as thick and long as a telephone pole should be enough to scare anyone. The Burmese python is just that, an enormous snake. Native to the southern parts of Asia it is also a common pet because of its beautiful pattern of dark brown spots on a light brown body. Few people, though, realize the actual danger and full time job it means to have a Burmese python in your home. With a full grown length of up to 27 feet (8 meters) and a weight up to 400 lb (180 kg) of pure muscles, the Burmese python is no little snake to let your children play with. This has led to that the Burmese python is abandoned or thrown out of the house once they get to big. Many believe that the zoo or animal centre will take care of the Burmese python when they do not want them anymore but that is just pure stupidity. Even if they zoo or animal centre could afford giving this awesome snake shelter, they would probably not have the sheer space needed to house this snake. Therefore many people have found the solution in letting their snakes out into the wilderness and this is a great danger for the local ecosystem. The snake is probably a new top of the food-chain and, for example, in Florida Everglades, Burmese python has been reported fighting the native alligators for prey.

In the wild the Burmese python feed on birds and small mammals. Therefore it is not uncommon to find at least on of these big boys lying around in human populated areas, human presence attract rats and other vermin. This could be a good thing, but the trouble is that the Burmese python not really can separate vermin from your average domestic cat. You will not treasure a snake that much as a pesticide when it has eaten your daughters precious “Fluffy”.

The female Burmese python will lay clutches that range from 12 to 36 eggs. Once the eggs are laid the Burmese python will encircle the eggs and twitch its muscles once and awhile. The twitching makes it possible for the female Burmese python to raise the temperature for the eggs several degrees. During the time that the female incubates, as it is also called, it does not leave the eggs, not even to eat. This means that once the eggs hatch, the female Burmese python will skid off to find a snack and the baby-Burmese pythons are left on their own. No problem at all since they are born ready to take care of themselves.

Because the beautiful skin of the Burmese python it is a common product in the leather industry. Usually bred in captivity, even bred to achieve better patterns through genetic morph, the Burmese python is then killed and turned into handbags and boots. Although Burmese python is quite easily bred in captivity, their skin is considered exclusive and exotic, and can therefore cost quite much on the market.

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