Animal rights activists are asking Florida officials to prohibit the decapitation of pythons.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Tuesday called on the state to prohibit hunters from decapitating snakes during the upcoming Python Challenge in the Everglades.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirms that snakes' brains can tolerate a loss of oxygen and blood, allowing them to remain conscious after decapitation much longer than mammals. The commission recommends using a firearm or captive bolt to immediately destroy the reptile's brain.
The month-long Python Challenge begins Jan. 16. The previous Challenge in 2013 resulted in the capture of 68 snakes.
The pythons are native to southern Asia, making them an invasive species to Florida. They began infesting the Everglades in the 1990s.
