The 18‑foot‑4‑inch reticulated python was discovered strangling a pet cat behind a house in Naranjito, Puerto Rico, after the animal fled into nearby vegetation. The incident prompted a rapid response from local residents who then called in a specialist.
Kevin Pavlidis, a Florida‑based snake hunter known online as Snakeaholic, joined forces with Proyecto Retic to track the reptile. After roughly 20 minutes of searching through dense bushes, they located the python and secured its head before pulling it out of the vegetation.
At 5.59 metres, the python eclipses the previous Puerto Rican record of 4.9 metres set in 2019, making it the longest live‑captured reticulated python on the island. Images of the snake, shared on social media, show several people shoulder‑to‑shoulder holding the massive constrictor.
Reticulated pythons, native to Southeast Asia, have become a major invasive species in Puerto Rico, preying on native wildlife, pets, and livestock. Environmental authorities warn that unchecked growth could decimate local ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.
Pavlidis confirmed that the snake was euthanised following capture, as Puerto Rico regulations restrict relocation of invasive pythons. The incident has reignited calls for stricter monitoring and public education about the risks posed by these predators, and Proyecto Retic will continue surveying the Naranjito area in partnership with local wildlife officers.