As the global population boosts and environment modification threatens agri-food systems globally, some scientists have thought about the viability of farming large pythons for human usage. The verdict? Eating pythons could actually be an excellent concept. Snake steak should be on the table.
In a term paper released previously this year, scientists from Australia, South Africa, the U.K., and Vietnam described how they determined growth rates in 2 species of big pythons– Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons. Both types are belonging to Southeast Asia.
“Pythons grew rapidly over a 12-month duration, and women grew faster than males,” state the scientists. “Food intake and development rates early in life were strong predictors of overall life time growth, with everyday mass increments varying from 0.24 to 19.7 g/day for M. reticulatusand 0.24 to 42.6 g/day for P. bivittatus, depending upon food consumption.”
Pythons Are Exceptionally Resistant
In addition to growing quickly, pythons are especially durable to long-lasting fasting, which might make them a trusted food source during times of lack.
“Pythons that fasted for approximately 4.2 months lost approximately 0.004% of their body mass each day, and resumed rapid development as quickly as feeding recommenced,” the paper states. Amidst significantly unstable environments for growing and producing food, this trait would be a plume in the cap of python farmers.
When it comes to food and protein conversion ratios, the scientists say pythons “outperform all mainstream agricultural types studied to date.” In layperson terms, pythons turn their food into meat efficiently– much more effectively than more standard sources of protein like cows.
Dan Natusch, a herpetologist at Macquarie University in Australia and a lead author on the study, informed Scientific American that pythons could assist mitigate existing and future food obstacles.
“Farming pythons might be a big part of the solution for a part of the world that is already experiencing extreme protein shortage,” Natusch said.
Besides, according to Natusch, python meat is “pretty delicious and versatile.”
Would you eat a snake steak?
Scientist considered the practicality of farming large pythons for human intake. Turns out, eating pythons could in fact be an excellent idea.