Python's meal attracts crowd

CAIRNS, Australia, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- An Australian python that attacked a wallaby on a university campus was filmed trying to swallow the animal -- and then throwing it up.

The videotape was made by Tanja Stark, a student at James Cook University in Cairns. The python attracted a large audience to its meal, News.com reported.

Andrew Krockenberger, an associate professor at James Cook University, said he and his students went out to look.

"While seeing sakes and wallabies isn't unusual, it was very unusual to see a snake trying to eat a wallaby on the side of a road," he said.

Wallabies are kangaroo-like mammals, somewhat smaller than kangaroos.

Krockenberger said the snake eventually realized it had bitten off more than it could chew -- or at least swallow.

"It was a very small python and it gave up after a while. It had a good try but it was a little over ambitious," he said.

He said the python may have been "spooked" by the crowd.