Only In Australia: Huge Snake Swallows, Regurgitates Fellow Snake – via Herp Digest

Katie Hill, 10daily.com.au News Reporter

May 21, 2019

Snake sightings aren't rare in the Kimberley, but snake-on-snake cannibalism is.

A six-metre long olive python was spotted with a full belly at the Parry Creek Farm Tourist resort, just east of Wyndham, WA, on Monday afternoon.

The big guy was quickly hauled into a bag and relocated to a nearby watering hole to keep the resort's chickens safe.

But shortly after being released, the slippery creature started to regurgitate its lunch.

It wasn't a chook, or a small mammal, as expected -- instead, a tail popped out of the snake's mouth.

The incredible scene was snapped by manager Amanda Jongedyk. You can actually see the second snake curled up inside the large snake's belly. 

The snaps have left many social media users in awe. "Incredible" and "amazing" were the most common responses.

"I have seen olives regurgitate their dinner before to beat a hasty retreat from their perceived threat ... they'd rather give up their lunch than being slowed down, " said one person.

Which led us to question -- do snakes normally eat snakes? And why don't we see them regurgitate more often?

"Snakes are part of their diet," said Sean Cade, from Australian Snake Catchers.

Asked whether they could be called cannibals, Cade responded with a simple "yes."

In this case, both snakes in question are olive pythons, Australia's second largest snake species. Like red-belly black snakes, they can eat their own kind.