The python can be seen squeezing the last light of life out of the calf before unlocking its jaws and swallowing it whole, while its mother cries out in distress.
Heartbreaking: The helpless mother impala is forced to watch the python eat her baby calf in South Africa
‘A few minutes later the herd moved away leaving the snake with her prize, but we looked on fascinated as she continued to squeeze despite the lack of life left in the poor lamb’s body.
‘The mother impala returned and came close to her baby, distraught and calling in alarm but there was nothing she could do.
Dinner time: The African rock python wraps its body around the baby impala as it prepares to devour it
Open wide: The python starts with the head of the baby impala and unlocks its jaws to swallow it whole
Big bite: The African rock python can swallow prey three times wider than its own head
‘When the snake was confident the lamb was dead it released its grip and then locked its jaws around the lamb’s nose and moved it into the undergrowth to swallow it whole.’
Dinner time: The python was seen squeezing the impala calf to make sure it was dead before eating it
Poor animal: The mother impala could be heard crying out in distress as the python dined on the calf
All done: After a meal this size, the African rock python might not need to feed again for up to a year
Elastic ligaments allow the jaws to stretch apart and the two sides of the lower jaw are not joined to each other.
If it needs to it is able to divide its upper jaws as well, giving its head four sections that can move independently.
The acid in the python’s stomach will break everything from this impala down, including hooves and horns. Digestion of such a big meal may take weeks, during which the snake will be more vulnerable to predators.
But after such a meal this snake might not need to feed again for up to a year.