A photo of a giant python with a bulging belly has gone viral online and sparked a fierce debate about the contents of the snake’s mystery meal.
Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers shared the post to Facebook on Monday after a local sent in the photo of a python lounging in his garage post-snack.
“What did this snake eat?! Wowzas!,” the post read.
“Thanks to one of our followers, Paul, for sending this awesome photo in of a python with a belly full of food. They believe it was a large possum that the snake had eaten.
“The snake was quite happy laying up for the next few days digesting its big meal,” the post continued.
“It’s that time of year when snakes are looking for a big feed!”
Sunshine Coast Snake Catcher Stuart McKenzie said pythons like the one in the photo were out and about during the warm summer months.
“We are obviously out of breeding season now so the snakes are out for a big feed, potentially small pets, so it’s the time of year when you should be thinking about your animals being inside,” McKenzie told news.com.au.
“It’s smack bang in the middle of summer so snakes are out and we are encountering snakes with full bellies every single day.
“On the Sunshine Coast you can get pythons like that up to three metres long.”
The wrangler also answered the question of the hour – what did the snake eat?
“The photo angle does make the python look bigger, but I think it ate a big brush-tailed possum,” McKenzie said.
“Pythons are not really a threat, they are only a threat if you try and mess with them. Just keep a safe distance and move on.”
The post was flooded with hundreds of speculative comments from followers unconvinced the snake had gorged on a large possum.
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“That would be one big possum more like a small dog,” one person commented.
”Looks more like a dog, goat or small pig to me .. amazing snake. RIP the meal,” added another.
“I would count all of your employees just to be sure,” a third joked.
When a pet is bitten it is not always possible to know the type of snake involved so it is important to seek emergency veterinary care as soon as possible.
If your pet shows the following symptoms and/or you think they have been bitten by a snake, RSPCA recommends you keep your pet calm and quiet and take them to the vet immediately.
Call the vet ahead of time for advice and so the vet can prepare.
