Tourists were treated to their very own nature show this week after spotting a massive python devouring a possum as he swung from a tree.
Michelle Hunjak, from Sydney, was visiting the Byron Bay lighthouse with her sister Simone on Sunday when the pair happened upon the 1.4 metre reptile enjoying his lunch, according to 9News.
The suspected carpet python, who soon began to draw a crowd, was pictured hanging in the tree by its tail as it swallowed the possum, whose legs and tail were still sticking out of the snake’s mouth.
Tourists stumbled upon a 1.4 metre carpet python devouring a possum as he swung from a tree on the New South Wales coast on Sunday (pictured)
Michelle Hunjak, from Sydney, was visiting the Byron Bay lighthouse with her sister Simone when the pair happened upon the reptile enjoying his lunch (pictured)
Ms Hunjak, a self-confessed snake lover, said she was instantly fascinated by the python.
‘I really love snakes so it was amazing to see the feeding in person. I had no idea they would be able to eat something like that,’ she said.
‘I was more intrigued and excited rather than scared.’
Head reptile keeper with the Australian Reptile Park, Dan Rumsey, told 9News it is not unusual for pythons to eat animals several times their size.
‘They aren’t venomous but they have teeth, so they’ll use their teeth and their constrictions to consume their prey. It’s pretty common for pythons to feed on possums, as larger food items are more beneficial so they don’t have to eat as regularly,’ he said.
The python, who soon began to draw a crowd, was pictured hanging in the tree by its tail as it swallowed the possum, whose legs and tail were still sticking out of the snake’s mouth (pictured)