LIFE LESSON FOR PYTHON

Not long after leaving the lodge, we came across a scene involving an African Rock Python and a scrub hare. The python was not very large, maybe a little over a metre, and was clearly struggling to swallow the very large scrub hare. For about half an hour we watched the snake aligning himself and dislocating his jaws to start the swallowing process. However, not even a quarter of the head would be down his throat and he would spit it out again.

Eventually he gave up and slithered away into a nearby bush-clump. He was completely unalarmed and I really did not think that we had any impact on his attempt to swallow his prey. It simply was just too large for him to swallow. It must have been quite a struggle, for no reward for the snake, except maybe a life lesson not to bite off more than he could chew.

Posted: Exeter Lodges by Andre McDonald, Date: 22 December 2011