A python swallowing a doe-eyed steenbok whole is not a sight which would thrill the average person enjoying a safari in the grasslands of Botswana, but for Matto Barfuss it was 'a dream'.
The Dutch filmmaker jumped at the chance to capture the final moments of the doomed creature, before it was swallowed whole by the deadly reptile in a marathon meal which took more than 24 hours to finally finish.
It seems the snake had managed to grab onto the bok's hind legs as it passed while walking in the high grass by the southern African country's Kwando river.
Barfuss realised something exciting was going on when he noticed a commotion in the distance.
The 44-year-old explained: 'At the time I was filming a documentary on African Wild Dogs and only knew that something great was going on at a distance.
'I immediately stopped filming and rushed to the spot.
'By that point, the body of the steenbok was already surrounded by the snake and she had started to constrict her prey.
'It was quite thrilling, how long the steenbok could still breathe before it passed away and its tongue lolled out.'
But this was far from a quick meal. At first, it seemed the snake's eyes had been bigger than its belly.
But the pythons determination won out - although it took more than 24 hours for it to consume the steenbok, which had also caught the eye of a couple of nearby hyenas.
'It seemed to be a big deal for the snake to swallow the whole thing,' Barfuss said.
'At first, the snake was too exhausted and disappeared for a while. It risked losing its prey to hyenas in the night, after it went away down a hole.
'After more than 24 hours, the python came back out and gave it another go.
'It took almost four hours to get the whole carrion in the body.'
The snake#s determination impressed Barfuss.
He said: 'It was amazing to see the hard work and it looked very painful.
'Afterwards the body of the snake became much slimmer and slithered back down her hole.
'It was such a dream to see. After 71 excursions to Africa and more than 10 years, I came across a once in a lifetime experience.'
(Daily Mail)
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