Watch the sighting here:
Field guide Pieter van Wyk sent his record of the event to Latest Sightings, after filming it at MalaMala Game Reserve.
Exposed!
Pieter explains that he had just started a game drive when he saw what he thought was a snake attacking a bird. But, he said, “As I got closer, I realized that the bird was actually attacking the snake.”
The video begins with the bird pecking at the head of the snake. What is most significant is that the snake is out in the open.
Ordinarily, boomslangs live in trees, making it easier to evade threats. While we don’t know how it ended up on the ground, it is at a serious disadvantage.
Even when it is momentarily free of the bird, there is no avenue of escape available.
Threat display
When threatened, boomslangs inflate their throats to make themselves appear larger to predators. However, this display has no visible impact on the bird, which continues to harass it.
Targeted attack
As if understanding the further advantage it will gain, the bush shrike targets the snake’s eyes.
And, it appears to respect the fact that its victim is still dangerous, as whenever it lets go, it quickly moves a safe distance.
Bleeding
The bird’s repeated pecks soon draw blood around the snake’s eyes.
As soon as the snake turns its injured eye away, the bird targets the other eye.
No quarter given
Not content to just see its enemy driven away, the bird actively prevents its escape — even grabbing the snake’s tail at one point.
Eyes pecked out
With the snake at its mercy, the shrike continues to peck at the head and eyes. In the video, we hear Pieter announce that one of the eyes has been removed.
By now, there is an open wound on the snake’s head, at which the bird focuses its hooked beak. Inevitably, it tears away small chunks of flesh.
With the snake now at least partially blind, the bird begins targeting the back of its head. The incessant attacks are taking a toll on the snake whose movements are laboured.
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Giving up
After several minutes of continuous assault, the snake seems ready to give up. Even when the bird stops pecking, it seems unable to move away.
New target
Satisfied that the snake was helpless, the bush shrike started targeting the snake’s back, possibly hoping to sever its spine.
At this point, however, Pieter reports that his guests asked to leave the gruesome sighting. “As we were leaving, I couldn’t help but think about what would happen to the snake.”
The likely outcome
Regardless of whether the bird continued its attack, the chances of this snake surviving were very slim. Now blind, it would be unable to hunt effectively.
However, given the persistent onslaught of the bird, it is possible that it would have gone on to eat the snake once it died.
Expect the unexpected
As is the case in this video, when on safari, one should never make assumptions. In an instant, the tables can turn, revealing unique and interesting behaviours.
These observations are useful in increasing our understanding and appreciation of the world we live in.