Python Eats Crocodile: Impressive, but I've Seen Larger Meals!

[findi]

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo.
Recently, dramatic photos of an Olive Python, Liasis olivaceus, swallowing an Australian Freshwater Crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, have been much in the news. A very interesting story, no doubt, but actually a 3-4 foot long croc is well within the size range of prey taken by large pythons. In past articles I’ve mentioned some of the astonishing snake meals I’ve been witness to (please see articles linked below). One, a 60 pound White-tailed Deer taken by a huge Green Anaconda in Venezuela, would be hard for me “to swallow” (sorry!) had I not been awakened by the snake disgorging it below my hammock in the wee hours! A 5-foot-long Spectacled Caiman grabbed by another took 6+ hours to subdue. I’ve also searched my notes for feeding accounts recorded by Messrs. Ditmars, Pope, Greene, Kauffeld and other notables, and thought I’d take this opportunity to share them with my fellow snake enthusiasts…Enjoy! Read the rest of this article here http://bit.ly/1ioN2YG
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

 

[The Snark]

The way the media has hyped it one would think it took a 10 foot estuarine instead of a little freshy.

 

[findi]

The way the media has hyped it one would think it took a 10 foot estuarine instead of a little freshy.

Yes...even some well-respected sites made such a big deal of it!

 

[Mindibun]

It seems the only news involving snakes is sensationalized, bad news. As someone with 20+ years experience with snakes, including venomous, I can't tell you how upsetting this is. :/ When I was younger I wanted to be a biologist - leaning towards entomologist - and my dad said I should "get a real job" so I went for a very bland, common degree. I regret every minute of it. I hate watching shows or reading stories about snakes and various misunderstood animals. It always upsets me.

 

[pitbulllady]

It seems the only news involving snakes is sensationalized, bad news. As someone with 20+ years experience with snakes, including venomous, I can't tell you how upsetting this is. :/ When I was younger I wanted to be a biologist - leaning towards entomologist - and my dad said I should "get a real job" so I went for a very bland, common degree. I regret every minute of it. I hate watching shows or reading stories about snakes and various misunderstood animals. It always upsets me.

It's REALLY gotten bad within the last few years, too. It seemed like when Steve Irwin was alive, still on tv, reptiles in general got more positive press. He generated interest in snakes and other reptiles in a very positive way, one that piqued the public's curiosity without fueling so much of the negative misconceptions. Now, it's pretty much open-season on reptiles and reptile owners. People would rather believe things like huge man-eating pythons swarming wild throughout the entire United States, devouring our poor little children and puppies and kitties and bunny rabbits than anything remotely resembling the truth.

pitbulllady

 

[findi]

It seems the only news involving snakes is sensationalized, bad news. As someone with 20+ years experience with snakes, including venomous, I can't tell you how upsetting this is. :/ When I was younger I wanted to be a biologist - leaning towards entomologist - and my dad said I should "get a real job" so I went for a very bland, common degree. I regret every minute of it. I hate watching shows or reading stories about snakes and various misunderstood animals. It always upsets me.

Well, there are some good groups working on snake conservation, but it will always be an uphill battle. venomous snakes are a major concern in many places (see here http://bit.ly/yfv3Xo) so conservation orgs need to be careful promoting projects in places where people are regularly killed etc. And as one who's responded to venomous snakebites to private owners in the USA, as well as to deaths caused by large pythons (as part of my work for the Bx Zoo, NYPD), I can say that the general public will never accept such, and further regulation is very likely. As for the sensationalizm, no way around that, unfortunately...even minor weather events are blown out of proportion! BTW - I started out as a lawyer, among many other things, ...rough path to move into zoology, but worthwhile in my case; more opportunities for "realistic" careers in entomology than in many other related disciplines, as so many insects are of economic importance, disease vectors, medicinal research possibilities, etc....Best, Frank

 

[The Snark]

It's REALLY gotten bad within the last few years, too. It seemed like when Steve Irwin was alive, still on tv, reptiles in general got more positive press. He generated interest in snakes and other reptiles in a very positive way, one that piqued the public's curiosity without fueling so much of the negative misconceptions. Now, it's pretty much open-season on reptiles and reptile owners. People would rather believe things like huge man-eating pythons swarming wild throughout the entire United States, devouring our poor little children and puppies and kitties and bunny rabbits than anything remotely resembling the truth.

pitbulllady

I remember reading one of those 'deadly pythons running rampant' articles then going outside a few minutes later to spot a little python ball on the low limb of a tree. It was sticking it's nose out as if to say 'Be afraid. Be very afraid!'. Other walked up and tickled it's nose and for some reason, contrary to all that sage sensationalist media BS, it meekly tucked it's head into the coils.

Fear me!