‘Trip-wire Python: Olive Python catches and eats Agile Wallaby Joey’…

Trip to Lawn Hill Gorge National Park 2005

“We’re finally here”, I muttered. After a 4 four drive from Mt Isa in blistering heat and to the delight of all present. It was late March 2005 and we were at Lawn Hill Gorge National Park, north western Queensland - an oasis in the heart of Gulf country. I had made the trip up from Brisbane with a small group of liked-minded nature nuts and we had one thing on our minds, to photograph as much wildlife as we could - especially reptiles.

Anxious to start looking around, a friend and I set out just after dark (with torches in hand) to try and locate one of a number of large, resident Olive pythons (Liasis Olivaceus) which we were told makes regular ‘after dark’ appearances in the vicinity of Lawn Hill Gorge car park and adjacent areas. As luck would have it, we were to have a very successful night locating a total of 6 individuals of varying sizes as well as a 3 Children’s pythons (Antaresia Childreni) and a swag of other interesting nocturnal critters. Most notably however was a young adult Olive of just over 3 meters in length which seized a young Agile Wallaby (Macropus agilis) just after its mother let it out of the pouch. The thrashing, ground thumping and shrieking screams by the captured joey and its panic stricken mother alerted us and gave away the location. As we made our way closer, I never would have guessed the spectacle that we were about to witness.

The following pictures are an example of nature at its awe-striking best. You will notice that this Olive python has grasped the Wallaby, not with its mouth but with its tail (at no time in the initial stages did we witness the snakes head any where near its captured prey). This leads one to assume that this species of python possibly uses its entire body as a sort of trip wire or sensor when in ambush to help locate and capture its prey (unlike the Morelia genus group of pythons that adopt a more deliberate ambush position).

This peculiar hunting technique may explain why most of the Olive Pythons I have encountered at night, have been either stationary or moving very slowly, presumably hunting in a kind of obvious ambush whilst waiting for their quarry. These snakes are the true meaning of stealth, slowly cruising their terrestrial feeding grounds, their plain uniform colors blending perfectly with the substrate and making zero noise. Even when revisited sometime later, despite their large size these animals seem to just melt from view.

The ground surface in and around the flood plain forests of Lawn Hill creek are strewn with discarded Palm fronds, massive root tangles jutting out from huge up-turned tree’s and other flood debris. All this amounts to a perfect hunting habitat for such a large snake like the Olive python. In fact if one fails to keep a keen eye, it is highly likely that one could walk right onto (step on) an animal of goliath proportions, as he lies totally exposed amongst heavy debris - I know because I nearly did! These animals camouflage so well with the busy ground debris of this area.

Pictures

A pouch-young Agile Wallaby joey minutes after it was grabbed by this 3 meter Olive python. Notice the white mark on the coil of the python? This is missing skin caused by a toed gouge from the joey’s mother during the ensuing struggle, and while she was attempting to release her young from the python’s clutches.

The tail is clearly visible in this picture.

Going, going…

The whole process from beginning to end took roughly 20 minutes.

Job done, well almost…

Although a bit battered and bruised, this Olive python emerges none for the worst and with a full belly!

A closer look at the snake in question. Olive pythons have a high dorsal scale count and with good reason. This adaption enables them to swallow very large prey items. The more scales, the more skin between them and that’s where they gain the elasticity they need to swallow big prey.

A look up Lawn Hill creek into the gorge. Herps found in this area include the Golden Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus), Arafura File Snake (Acrochordus arafurae), Black Headed Python (Aspidites melanocephalus) Northern Snapping Turtle (Elseya dentata) and the Freshwater Crocodile ( Crocodylus johnstoni). Locals in the area report of a noticeable decrease in some species of reptiles in this area since the arrival of the introduced Cane Toad (Bufo marinus). Effected species include the Frilled Necked Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), the Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis), Mertens Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi) and the Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni).

View of the creek, Lawn Hill Gorge National Park.

The gorge, a very special place.

A view from the top of the gorge. Look closely at this picture, note the Freshwater Croc taking some ‘time out’ on one of his favorite resting spots.

A closer look.

Summary

Getting out and about in this magnificent country of ours and observing our wild fauna would have to be one of my most favored past times. But, when it comes to reptiles there is something else, that ‘X’ factor which makes the experience of finally locating a target species just that bit more exciting. I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in captive reptile husbandry, to view their captive counter parts in the wild state. Doing so will invariably give the observer a renewed understanding of their reptiles requirements and then, with a little creative thinking, the ability to apply what they have seen to a captive environment. It really is that simple. So what are all you arm-chair Herpers waiting for? If you are serious about your hobby, get out there, get some fresh air and educate yourself. Your captive loved ones will thank you!