Intense video shows python swallowing a hyena whole

NOPE.
 By 
Brian Koerber
 on 

Mother Nature is brutal.

A tourist in Kenya found themselves in a gory situation recently when they stumbled across a 13-foot-long rock python devouring a 150-pound hyena.

It's pretty brutal.

According to National Geographic, Dutch web designer Jos Bakker discovered the snake while at the Masai Mara National Reserve, and his tour guide informed local scientists at Fisi Camp, a field site for zoologist Kay Holekamp of the Michigan State University.

Scientists were initially skeptical a python could take on something as big and smart as a hyena, but here were are.

“For the hyena, I would say this rock python had to be perfect,” Kowalski told National Geographic. “If it did not immediately strike and coil the neck-chest region to immobilize the head, the hyena could've easily crushed the python's skull.”

Rock pythons can grow up to 25 feet long, and weigh as much as 200 pounds.

photo of brian
Brian Koerber

Brian was the Culture Editor and has been working at Mashable on the web culture desk since 2014.

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