A five-meter python swallowed the dog in front of the children
A five-meter python looked for a domestic dog for several days, before attacking him and swallowing him whole in front of terrified children – Australian media reported, citing the opinions of wild animal experts. The gruesome scene took place near Kuranda in northern Queensland. A 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy were going to a nearby store on Monday morning, when a scene like a horror movie was played out in front of their house. When they opened the exit door, a crouching snake emerged from behind them and attacked the accompanying dog, mixed breed terrier and chihuahua. The animal was swallowed whole. Stuart Douglas, local zoo owner believes, that such attacks are rare. – Pythons from these areas mostly hunt wallabies, smaller relatives of kangaroos. They venture into areas inhabited by humans exceptionally. In this situation, the python must have lurked for days, before he attacked. According to the owners' accounts, a few days prior to the incident, the python was sighted near the dog's lair.
They should have called me then, and so the snake escaped – says Douglas. – Three or four days later they notified me of the attack, but it was too late to save the quadruped. When I got there, the only visible part of the dog was its hind legs sticking out of the snake's mouth. Zoo manager Todd Rose explains, that the python is strangling its victim, before he swallows it whole. – A five-year-old dog was most likely crushed within minutes – explains. It follows from his account, that a mother of two seeing what was happening, she began throwing plastic chairs at the snake. – The problem is that, that such actions could not do much harm to the python. You have to remember, that this animal is over 50 kilograms of muscle – says Rose. – We also couldn't get the half-swallowed dog right away – he adds. – After all, this animal has sharp teeth and claws, which could hurt the python if you tried to intervene, and even kill. The manager explained, that the snake for the next few days, already at the zoo, he will end up digesting the unfortunate four-legged friend. Then it will be transported deep into the bush.