Platypus’ rare encounter with python in Mary’s Creek, west of Gympie

A platypus in a creek north of Brisbane has had a rare and unfortunate encounter with a hungry carpet python, and the entire thing was caught on film by a photographer out taking a walk in the country.VIDEO, PHOTOS

Incredibly rare photos and video of a platypus’ unfortunate encounter with a python in a creek west of Gympie were posted to social media this week.

The photos were taken by Elliot Bowerman and Darren Williams of Herbalistics Nursery, in Mary’s Creek south west of Gympie, an area comprised of farms and larger rural residential blocks.

They shared the pictures and video of the encounter on their social media accounts advising:

“‘The platypus was wedged under a rock and the python was having trouble getting it out, it may have retreated to try and escape”.

When concerned followers expressed their distress and asked whether or not the platypus had been killed by the python, they said they believed the platypus was dead and “we can only make assumptions as to time of death unfortunately without a post mortem”.

They also added on their Instagram:

“If I had seen signs of life I may have interfered.”

‘If I had seen signs of life I may have interfered.’ Source: Source: Darren Williams @herbalistics and Elliot Bowerman @elliot_bowerman.

The Facebook page of environmental conservation organisation Wild Conservation, where the photos and video were shared, said that while it was uncommon for a platypus and python to have this sort of encounter, it was not unheard of as pythons were typically opportunistic predators who would consume deceased animals.

When asked what the final outcome of the encounter was, Elliott and Darren said they “were not sure” as they continued their walk.

“It may have gotten the platypus out and swallowed it but it was sort of wedged under the rock,” they said.

The company Herbalistics was established in 2003, and is an online nursery that sells “medicinal, culinary, and unusual botanicals from Australia and around the world” and are based at Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast.

The company specialises in “sourcing and growing rare, unusual, and hard to propagate plants, both native and exotic”.