Carpet python grabs kookaburra from Queensland roof; bird survives

A kookaburra was rescued from the grip of a carpet python that had caught it while hanging from the roof of a house in Queensland, Australia.The dramatic rescue happened at a home in Clinton, where snake catchers were called after the python was seen wrapped around the native bird. The incident was shared by Gladstone Region Snake Catchers on Facebook.According to the rescuers, the carpet python had just caught what a 'nice winter feed'. The snake was hanging from the edge of the roof while tightly gripping the kookaburra.When the rescue team arrived, they carefully removed the bird from the snake. At first, they were unsure whether the kookaburra would survive. The bird showed little movement after being freed, and the rescures feared it had suffered serious injuries.The rescuers held the bird for a few minutes and checked its condition. Then, unexpectedly, the kookaburra recovered."It was obviously only semi-constricted and was also in shock until all of its senses kicked back in," the snake catchers wrote in their Facebook post. Within moments, the bird began squawking loudly before flying away into nearby bushland.The rescuers said the bird had been extremely fortunate because it had only just been captured by the snake. "A very lucky bird as it had only just been captured," they wrote.The operation was done by David Voss, who runs Gladstone Region Snake Catchers, with help from his daughter Holly Voss, who also works with him on jobs, Epoch Times reported.How bird survivedCarpet pythons are non-venomous snakes. Instead of using venom, they kill their prey by wrapping their bodies around it. This behaviour is known as constriction.When a python catches an animal, it coils tightly around it. Each time the prey breathes out, the snake tightens its grip further. This eventually prevents normal blood circulation and breathing, causing the animal to die before being swallowed whole.In this case, the rescuers believed the process had not gone very far. They said the kookaburra was only semi-constricted, meaning the snake had started to wrap around it but had not fully completed the process. Because of that, the bird was still alive when rescuers arrived.The snake catchers also said the kookaburra appeared to be in shock after the incident. An animal in shock may appear weak, still or unresponsive for a short period, even if it has not suffered fatal injuries. However, after a few minutes, the bird regained its senses, became active again and flew away.Kookaburra's lossAlthough the rescue saved the kookaburra, the carpet python lost its meal. The rescuers said the bird would have been a decent meal for the snake and could have sustained it for a considerable amount of time.However, the added that the snake would simply hunt again. "The burra lives another day," the post said.Carpet pythons are found across many parts of Australia and often live near people, especially where there are trees, gardens and other wildlife. They commonly feed on birds, possums, rodents and other small animals.Because they are not venomous, they rely on their strength and patience to catch prey.Social media reactsThe rescue attracted plenty of attention after Gladstone Region Snake Catchers shared photos and details of the incident on Facebook.Many people celebrated the bird's survival. One person commented, "Thank you for saving the kookaburra."Others pointed out that the snake had simply been following its natural behaviour by hunting for food. "Well that's not a happy outcome for the snake lol! He lost his meal," another user wrote.Such encounters are not unusual in the area where native animals live close to homes. Birds search for food, snakes hunt for prey and both may end up around buildings and gardens. Snake-catching services are regularly called to remove snakes from homes or help deal with wildlife situations safely.Voss also urged people to begin cleaning their yards in August, as snake activity increases during this time. He advised removing piles of rubbish and anything that may attract rodents, keeping a first-aid kit at home, learning the basic steps to respond to a snake bite, and taking a first-aid course if possible.Get the latest movie news, reviews, and celebrity updates. Download the TOI App.