2 men capture massive python near Dolphin Mall

KENDALL, Fla. – A local veterinarian wrangled a giant snake believed to be an invasive Burmese python over the weekend in an unusual spot: a marshy area near the Dolphin Mall.

Dr. Alvaro Larin received a call from his friend, Albert Pardo, when Pardo spotted the snake off Florida’s Turnpike near the mall on Saturday.

Pardo said his dog, Archie, first noticed the reptile.

ā€œOn the way back, [Archie] ran a little closer to it and he jumped up in the air. Like something startled him. We went back to investigate, and at that point the snake went into the water,ā€ Pardo recalled. ā€œAnd so I called my friend Dr. Larin, because he has experience catching snakes.ā€

On Sunday, Larin climbed into the marshy and cattail-filled patch of land and pulled the snake from the water after several minutes wrestling with it. Pardo’s son-in-law, Manny Cejas, also assisted.

The python spent the night in a cooler in Pardo’s travel trailer before Florida Fish and Wildlife officers took it away.

ā€œThey’re an invasive species. It’s better if they just get rid of them,ā€ Pardo said. ā€œI almost did drop the phone and jump in there.ā€


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