Snake eats wallaby near Katherine

AN olive python managed to get his coils around some fast food in the form of an agile wallaby joey in the Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine.

AN olive python managed to get his coils around some fast food in the form of an agile wallaby joey in the Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine.

NT Parks and Wildlife ranger Paul O’Neill was alerted to the snake preparing to feast on the young marsupial by some birds making a racket.

The python prepares to devour the wallaby after killing it. PHOTO: Parks and Wildlife Commission/NT Ranger Paul O'Neill

Mr O’Neill went to investigate and managed to photograph the incredible process of the python devouring its prey.

Territory Wildlife Park snake expert Greg Smith said an olive python of this size would struggle to eat an animal any bigger than the wallaby.

“That wallaby would take about five to seven days to digest completely and the snake would go and hide for at least a month,” he said.

“The snake is of medium build and would probably start to hunt for more tucker within four to eight weeks.

“Some snakes will start looking for food even if they are overweight and have just eaten, but on average that meal would be sufficient to sustain that snake for at least three months.”

The incredible process of the olive python eating the wallaby joey. PHOTO: Parks and Wildlife Commission NT/Ranger Paul O'Neill

The olive python looks like it needs to go on a diet after devouring the wallaby. PHOTO: Parks and Wildlife Commission NT/Ranger Paul O'Neill