Death of a "tommie"

African Rock Python (approx. 4.5m) asphyxiates Thomson's gazelle after ambush strike on rear left leg. Video begins about 1 minute after strike which was noticed from about 500m distance by Tim Trench of Tim Trench Safaris. Ultimately python did not return to consume the "tommie", possibly because of danger posed by large horns. Vultures eventually discovered and consumed the carcass in about 5 minutes and a lone hyena made off with the remains, disappointing three lions who had raced about 1km to share in the feast.

Sony SLT-A55V; 70-300mm G SSM; Masai Mara (01 26 52.7 S, 35 04 24.2 E). Video by Ian Spence, 2011-02-12, 10:19 am local time. Converted to MPG from original Sony AVCHD format.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Masai Mara
• Tim Trench Safaris; Kenya

[DrSpenceI]

Ambush is the answer. Snake hides in hole and waits (possibly for days). Tommie walks past, maybe grazing, and snake strikes real leg (very fast, since head only moves a few feet). Very effective strategy.

[DrSpenceI]

53 to 67 cm (21 to 26 in) tall and weigh 13 to 24 kg (29 to 53 lb) (females), 17 to 29 kg (37 to 64 lb) (males) (Wikipedia)

I don't think that the size of the "tommie" was the problem. My guess is that the horns were the deterrent.

[Julie1962m]

An extrodinarily rare sighting. Great Video!

Fortunately it was just a male gazelle. It would have been very very upsetting had it been a female to suffer such a tragic death. Do you have video of the vultures eating him? Not many people have seen vultures deal with an intact carcass. 

[DrSpenceI]

@Julie1962m

I didn't make a video of the vultures, hyena, and lions. I did take still photos. I have posted a sequence of the photos.

[SophieGrange35]

WHAT IN HELP?? YOU IS STUPID! FUCKED YOU. poor gazelle ;-((

[Brunnao123456]

Lei da natureza, se matasse a cobra seria injusto pq a gazela era alimentação dela e se ajudasse a gazela a fugir a cobra poderia até morrer de fome e desgasto, gastando energia pra caçar outras presas, a forma mais viável ai era matar essa gazela o mais rápido possível para acabar com sofrimento dela, em vez de ficar só filmando. Pelo menos no meu caso eu faria isso!

[CrocodileKhan]

Really a damn slow suffocation here...x_x

[xbundacebrx]

o pior animal ja feito foi a cobra mesmo que sensação horrivel eu tive quando olhei pra esser pobre animal sufocando morrendo agonizando e tem jente que se adimira ao ver isso tomara que um dia vcs venhm acampar e pegue um de vcs ou seus filhos *-*

[Orthropox14]

i just love snakes

[SAMAND33]

Brazilian Jiujutsu!

[frisc45]

very nice footage! wow should have kept recording.

[annumin]

really rare footage!

[lastsaracen]

My question is, how un earth did a Rock Python catch one of the fastest animals on the earth? Was it sick or sleeping or something? Thanks.