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FLORIDA - Florida officials have reported a significant increase in Burmese python removals from the Everglades after partnering with Miami-based Inversa Leathers, a company that converts invasive species into leather products.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that 748 pythons were removed in July 2025 alone, compared to 235 in July 2024, marking a tripling of removals since the partnership began in May 2025.
Inversa Leathers produces items such as wallets, belts, shoes, and other fashion goods from invasive Burmese pythons, lionfish off Florida’s coast, and silverfin carp from the Mississippi River Basin.
The initiative aims to reduce the population of species that threaten local ecosystems while supporting sustainable use of the animals.
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Governor DeSantis highlighted that 1,022 pythons were removed between May and July 2025, compared with 343 during the same period in 2024.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the increased removals reduced staff workload by 89%, allowing biologists to focus on other conservation tasks.
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, were first introduced to Florida through the exotic pet trade and releases after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
These snakes can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh over 250 pounds and have no natural predators in South Florida.
Their presence threatens dozens of native and endangered species in the Everglades.
The removals are part of ongoing state efforts, including the Florida Python Challenge and programs coordinated by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to manage the invasive species population and protect the Everglades ecosystem.