It was the battle of the pythons in a forest in India and had research scientists not been there at the right time, this fascinating incident would never have been documented. Researchers scouring a dense forest in India came across the rare encounter of a Burmese python swallowing a much larger reticulated python, but the big question is why? The chilling and unprecedented discovery in 2020 was photographed and documented in a study.
The Encounter Between Two of Nature’s Most Formidable Reptiles
The python battle between a Burmese python and a reticulated python stunned observers because it was the first known case of these two large species preying on each other. Due to its rare nature, the incident was the subject of a study published on Aug. 20, 2024, in the journal Reptiles and Amphibians: Conservation and Natural History. Research and study co-author Ashikur Rahman Shome, a wildlife ecologist at Dhaka University in Bangladesh, felt it was highly unusual for two giant species to be found in the same area.
It Took Two Hours for The Burmese Python to Finish Its Meal
The event, documented for the first time, has stunned herpetologists and wildlife experts globally. Photos of the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) swallowing a reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) from its tail up while still alive were shocking. Observers on the scene reported how it took two hours for the Burmese python to finish its meal. Arriving at the scene, the scientists saw the 3-meter (10-foot) long Burmese python coiled around the tail of the enormous, reticulated python. The latter resisted strongly but was no match for the Burmese python who then swallowed it from the tail up.
Why Was This So Unusual?
What made several herpetologists worldwide marvel at the study is because of the species involved. Firstly, both are apex predators and rarely do they engage in direct competition, let alone one consuming the other. Was it a case of stealing prey that enraged the Burmese python, or was it love matters? Who knows? Such behaviour had been hypothesized but never observed in the wild, making this documentation a significant contribution to herpetological research. “To the best of our knowledge, this observation represents the first documented predation of M. reticulatus by P. bivittatus,” the team wrote in the paper.
The Predators: Burmese and Reticulated Pythons
Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons are two of the largest snake species in the world, with the reticulated python holding the record as the longest snake. Native to Southeast Asia, both species are known for their incredible strength and ability to take down large prey, including deer and even crocodiles. A Burmese python can grow up to 5.8 meters (19 feet), whereas a reticulated python can grow up to 7.6 meters (25 feet). This fact makes the incident an unprecedented one, highlighting the competitive nature of these top predators and their ability to adapt in the wild.
Implications for Conservation and Wildlife Management
This unique predation event has broader implications for conservation and wildlife management, particularly in regions where these giant snakes coexist. The researchers are yet to fathom why the reticulated python was eaten, especially since the site was home to a variety of prey, including farm chickens nearby. The plausible answer is a territorial dispute, with one eating the other as the best way for the two giants to end the fight. As researchers continue to study this encounter, it is likely that more will be uncovered about the complex interactions between these giant snakes and their environment.
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