Python Swallows a Pregnant Sheep?
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on September 8th, 2006
Urban legend or reality?
I don’t know if this photo is legitimate or not, but here it is and the story that accompanies it…
WELL and truly stuffed . . . a python too full to avoid capture after swallowing a pregnant ewe in Kampung Jabor on Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR urban myths usually turn out to be just that, unless you’re talking about the python and its amazing appetite.
The giant reptiles eat no more than once a week, but when they open their incredible hinged jaws anything is fair game. On Tuesday, a 6m, 90kg python swallowed a pregnant ewe in the village of Kampung Jabor, about 200km east of Kuala Lumpur.
It was too laden to move, and firemen easily caught it, the local newspaper reported.
Humans also have become victims. In 1972 a python in Burma ate an eight-year-old boy.
Source: The Courier Mail
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
Well there was the report, which I think was true, of a python killing and trying to eat an alligator in Florida within the past year. The ‘gator being too much for the snake. With tragic results for both animals.
But until I get more info, I’m going to reserve comment on this photo.
I think the important thing to ask is, “how big were either of the animals involved?” I’m thinking is if the snake was/is absolutely huge and the ewe was a rather small species for sheep, then it is absolutely possible. If the sheep was something the size (wool and all) of the sheep usually raised in Australia, then we would have to get the snake autopsied to makes sure this isn’t anything like the shark a few days ago. If this has been played with, I can’t see it.
Hard to tell if this photo is doctored or not, but it is quite possible for a large python to eat a full grown sheep. These types of snakes can get down things you’d never imagine would fit. I’ve personally seen small pythons eat rabbits that were a comparable size difference, and they looked very much like this when finished.
I love pythons! The animal in the photo is a reticulated python. Large retics have a head that is roughly the size of a shoebox. They can feed on wild pigs and small deer, and I see no reason why one could not capture and eat a sheep.
That poor snake looks like it’s suffering from the worst case of indigestion!
I know the bottom jaw usually can divide in two to accomadate large prey, but does it appear to anyone else that the flesh has actually split? That had to be one hungry python to endure that sort of pain just to eat.
I live here in Singapore and they published more photos of the snake and it is real.
I scanned the article and if someone would give me their e-mail, I’ll send the article to them so they can post the photos.
Looks real to me. But why would they tie a rope around its neck? I don’t think this guy is going anywhere fast. Mmm, lamb chops. 😉
That’s a real photo. There was a deserted mining pool behind my house and there were pythons this size and they regularly ate goats. So I’m not suprised by this photo 🙂
Watch a snake regurgitate what looks like a pygmy hippo.
It looks to me like the snakes mouth and head are stretched over the head of the ewe I thought that pythons ate their prey head first. Even if it did eat the ewe feet first would the skull of the snake conform to the shape of the head of the ewe. I just dont know what to think of this picture.
In theory, at least, there is simply nothing extraordinary about “the snake story.” Reticulated pythons (the species depicted in the photo) hold world records for length (if not weight — those go to the anaconda) and are fully capable of overcoming ewe-sized prey items with some facility.
I’m amazed the species can survive if they’re that indisposed after eating large prey.
Seen a 5 metre python crushing a 2 metre high water pump in Africa. Eating that ewe shouldn’t have been any problem for that one.
Couple of things.
It is indeed a reticulated python, NOT of Australia. I believe the rope around its neck was so firemen could pull it off the road. Whether it lived from being yanked around by the neck like that is questionable, sad really.
The lower jaw in the snake doesn’t exactly split either, it has an elastic like connection between the two sides, which can stretch quite well. The ‘split’ you see are the back hooves of the ewe it swallowed.
That video of what “appears” to be a pygmy hippo being regurged by a large snake is actually a decent sized Tapir being thrown up by a fairly distressed and large Anaconda.
Too full to avoid capture, is it still alive or has it been murdered?
Truly an amazing photo. That is a real photo of a python, those snakes can devour just about anything. In the congo there are reports of snakes even bigger than that.