Claim: Photograph shows a snake pulling a cow out of the water.
Status: Real photographs; inaccurate description.
Example: [Collected via e-mail, February, 2007]
Origins: Some species of snake are capable of truly impressive feats of strength and gastronomy, and the photograph displayed above is one example of such (even though it may be mislabeled).
The serpent captured in this picture is an olive python, one of Australia's largest snakes. What the python appears to be hauling out of the water is not a cow but a
The Australian news outlet ABC Far North Queensland reported of this picture back in July 2005:
The picture shows a large Olive python capturing Note the size of the python, which if you look closely you can see disappearing out the right hand side of the frame. How much more of it is there, curled around the escarpment it so beautifully blends with? It appears that the wallaby is already dead but swallowing it will require an awesome feat of strength from the python — not only to drag the 'roo into it's gut but also to hang on while it does so. It's a large python but it's still an impressive display of the incredible physiology of these reptiles. The pic was taken in the Kimberley region of [Western Australia] ... the scene captured in this image holds a kind of macabre fascination for most of us who view it, as well as a Or was it simply reeling in its catch, like any fisherman, to consume it in a more genial environment.
It's not your average fishing shot but I'm sure you'll agree it's a catch that few could ever imagine.
ABC also noted that someone posting as the original photographer left a message in their guestbook:
I hope you enjoyed the photo that we took recently while hiking in a gorge in northern Western Australia. The phython was not able to lift the wallaby after trying for approximately one hour. We left him catching his breath on a rock ledge above the pool.
Last updated: 2 May 2007