If you’ve ever wondered how an encounter between a porcupine and a python would go down – we’ve got eye-watering evidence right here.
A 3.9meter African rock python was found looking a little dazed under a rocky ledge at Lake Eland Game Reserve, near Port Shepstone in South Africa earlier this month.
Keepers posted images of the bloated reptile to the resort’s Facebook page, speculating that the beast may have been feasting on a small warthog or impala calf, and remarking that it would not have to eat again for many months.
Sadly the snake later died and an autopsy found the animal was found to have ingested a 13.8kg porcupine – and succeeded in puncturing its own digestive tract with the creature’s spines during the process.
Reserve general manager Jennifer Fuller told The Telegraph: "The exact reasons for the snake's death are not clear.
"It is apparent that several porcupine quills were lodged inside the digestive tract. It had fallen off the rocky ledge.
"We don't know if it died beforehand, or whether the fall drove some of the quills into its digestive tract."
Ouch.