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A Burmese python slithering through Florida's Everglades swallowed intact a 76-pound deer, CNN reported.

Contractors spraying vegetation Thursday came across the snake on an island near Everglades National Park. The reptile was dispatched, by protocol, with a single shotgun blast to the head.

"They are large exotic animals that are not naturally from this area," said Randy Smith, spokesperson for the South Florida Water Management District.

Officials commented that people often release such exotic pets into the wild when they realize the animals will grow much larger than expected. They concluded that this is, in fact, the worst possible course of action.（點擊美國有線電視新聞網查看原文）

蟒蛇吞食整只成年鹿

?????? 據美國有線電視新聞網報道，一條穿梭于美國佛羅里達國家公園的緬甸蟒蛇竟吞下了一頭重76磅的成年鹿。

?????? 土地承包人在為植被噴灑藥劑時，于國家公園附近的小島發現了這條蛇。根據相關條例，它已被一槍射中頭部而死亡。

?????? 南佛羅里達水資源管理區發言人蘭迪?史密斯稱：“這些大型怪獸并不屬于當地生態圈。”

?????? 官員表示，這些往往是人們飼養的寵物，當發現寵物長成龐然大物時，他們便將其扔到野外；事實上，這樣做非常危險。

(China.org.cn November 3, 2011)