Snake catchers from the Irula tribe in Tamil Nadu – Masi Sadaiyan and Vadivel Gopal – are in United States saving Florida wildlife from pythons.
Before their arrival, American experts had tried everything: snake-sniffing dogs, radio-tagged informant snakes and even hunting bounties. Nothing was effective.
But just four weeks after arriving in Florida by invitation from a University of Florida python researcher, Masi and Vadivel have wowed everyone and already captured 30 snakes.
Dogs are helping to identify areas where pythons are hiding, by using scent profiles.
These snakes can grow up to six meters long, and they eat pretty much anything that walks or flies. Even alligators are on the menu, along with endangered rodents and birds.
