'Atlanta-Conda': 8-Foot Python Spotted Slithering in Busy Georgia Park

A massive python was spotted on Atlanta's Beltline trail on Monday, March 23. Joe Ragland told Storyful he and his friends were leaving a restaurant when they noticed a large group staring at a nearby bush. 'Atlanta is a city in a forest, so I didn't really know what to expect,' he said. Ragland told WSB-TV he then noticed a 'larger than average snake tail' and decided to film the wild sight. His footage showed a man lifting a massive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsCeuM1aRs granite Burmese python , which was partially covered by a bush, and placing it on the ground next to a busy paved path. The wild moment spurred jokes among bystanders, with Ragland referring to the snake as 'Atlanta-Conda.' Burmese pythons are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsCeuM1aRs not native to the area and the snake was likely a pet, though how it found itself on the Beltline remained a mystery. Authorities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsCeuM1aRs warned the public against any handling of wildlife. (Footage by Joe Ragland/Storyful via Getty Images UGC)