Some incredible photographs making rounds on the internet show the moment a large carpet python wraps itself around a king parrot and swallows the bird whole.
Pictures taken in Agnes Waters, Queensland, in Australia, show a massive python eating a parrot whole while hanging from the gutter of a woman's home.
The home's owner took the pictures and sent them to snake catcher, Stuart McKenzie, who posted them online.
The Sunshine Coast-based reptile expert took time to post them on his Facebook page, saying; "So cool. Nature at work. Some bird lovers may not like these pictures but the reality is that snakes eat birds, and guess what, birds eat snakes. Circle of life. Enjoy these awesome pictures."
Mckenzie said carpet pythons, which can grow to about three metres long, often preyed on small mammals and birds. "Carpet pythons will take on anything. Any bird that lands too close, they will have a go... they're opportunistic."
The parrot had likely landed too close to the python while it was basking and it took its chance and struck. He had seen instances where they had eaten small pets like guinea pigs, and it was common for them to get into chicken coops and eat chickens.
"It's your small pets you have to worry about. In some cases, they could take small cats and dogs. They would bite and squeeze their prey to kill them before starting to swallow them," he said.
Photo Credit: Reptile Catcher / Snake Catcher