Giant snake swallows crocodile in Australia

MOUNT ISA, Australia, March 3 (UPI) -- An epic five-hour battle between a giant water python and a three-foot fresh water crocodile ended with the the croc dead and inside the belly of the snake. The struggle took place along the edges of Lake Moondarra near Mount Isa, in Australia's Queensland.

The lengthy bout made for stunning imagery, thanks to local Tiffany Corlis who photographed the violent event. Corlis said throughout the melee, locals gathered to watch.

"(The crocodile) was fighting at the start, it was trying to keep its head out of water and survive,” Corlis told ABC News. “But as the morning progressed you could tell both of them were getting a little weaker as the struggle was going on, finally the croc sort of gave in."

"After the crocodile had died," she told the BCC, "the snake uncoiled itself, came around to the front, and started to eat the crocodile, face-first," she added.

Snake expert Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Science said a crocodile takedown isn't the norm, but it's also not unheard of. ‘‘Crocs are more dangerous to catch but easier to sneak up on,’’ he told the Brisbane Times. ‘‘Up in Kakadu, for example, they feed heavily on small rodents but that’s not to say they won’t take the crocs as well. The problem is they are risking being injured or killed, so they have to be judicious.’’

[Telegraph] [BBC News] [Brisbane Times]