King cobra eats struggling python in Sungei Buloh after paralysing it
A wildlife enthusiast recently shared his encounter with a king cobra catching and devouring a juvenile python that it had immobilised with venom.
Source: William Ko on Facebook
Mr William Ko told MS News that the incident occurred on 8 July 2022 but he had kept the exclusive footage unpublished until now.
He uploaded the video on 23 Nov, after being edited by another animal lover, Mr Ivan Goh.
Mr Ko said he was leaving Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve at 6pm when he noticed several NPark contractors pointing into the mangroves.
Moving closer, he saw two snakes tangled together in a tussle. After a while, he realised it was a king cobra and a juvenile reticulated python.
The cobra had sunk its fangs into the python to immobilise it with venom. Its prey fought back by wrapping its coils around the king cobra’s head to constrict it.
Image courtesy of William Ko
The cobra managed to slip out of the constriction, pulling its prey along with it.
Source: William Ko on Facebook
Cobra immobilises & eats python
Despite its prey’s efforts, the king cobra got the better of the python and continued immobilising it with its paralysing venom.
The python continued struggling throughout the encounter.
Eventually, it stopped moving, allowing the cobra to begin eating it headfirst.
Source: William Ko on Facebook
Mr Ko told MS News that it took an hour from immobilisation for the king cobra to fully devour the python.
Source: William Ko on Facebook
“As a wildlife enthusiast, it definitely was a heart-pounding encounter for me.”
He said it was the first time he had seen a snake eating another snake.
In the Facebook post, Mr Ko noted that king cobras specialise in hunting and devouring other snakes such as the python.
Also read: King cobra eats other snake whole at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
King cobra eats other snake whole at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
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Featured image courtesy of William Ko and adapted from William Ko on Facebook.
