Carpet python found strangling dead koala on popular walking track at North Stradbroke Island

Incredible footage has captured a carpet python and koala in a deadly tussle on North Stradbroke Island. WARNING: Graphic

Only in Australia would you come across a snake eating one of the nation’s most iconic animals – a deadly tussle in the middle of a popular walking track.

Yesterday, local, Carolyn Turner was shocked to see just that when she came across a massive carpet python devouring a koala on her walk down a North Stradbroke track.

She posted pictures of the two iconic Australian animals to the local North Stradbroke community group after she spotted them on her afternoon walk with a friend on Wednesday.

The koala was fortunately already dead, according to the hiker. Picture: Carolyn Turner.

Ms Turner said she was “shocked” to see the scene along the bush track between Frenchman’s and Deadman’s beaches, just a few hundred metres from the car park.

“It was systematically squeezing the dead koala in an effort to make it swallowable. Its jaw was unhinging as it was trying to find a way to eat it,” she said.

“I think it must have taken the koala from a tree above the track, fallen to the ground and was about to swallow it whole.”

The snake was seen devouring the already dead koala. Picture: Carolyn Turner.

The photos show the snake strangling the koala in an attempt to eat it in the middle of the footpath.

“We were scared, shocked and very upset to see such a confronting scene but know that nature is about survival and biodiversity is key to a healthy ecosystem,” Ms Turner said.

Commenters on her Facebook post were impressed and shocked by the sight with many saying they had never seen something like it before.

“STRAYA. When people move to Australia and buy all our houses … Just show em this photo,” one commenter said.