Authorities in Puerto Rico have caught a 12-foot Burmese Python that they had been trying to find for several weeks following complaints from residents in the area.
Sgt. Angel Atienza with the Department of Natural Resources said today that officials found the non-native snake in a river in the northern coastal town of Manati.
He said it is illegal to keep such snakes as pets in the US territory, with owners facing a USD 1,000 fine.
Atienza said the snake weighed about 70 pounds.
The Burmese Python is one of the largest snakes in the world and is native to Southeast Asia. They are popular as pets, but can grow up to 7 feet in one year.
