A conservationist has captured the extraordinary moment a cannibalistic black-headed python atta.cked and ate another snake of its own species while it was still alive.

AWC sanctuary manager Nick Stock stumbled on the bizarre sight at the Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary in Far North Queensland while checking on the status of a second arson event across the 165,000-hectare property.

Mr Stock spotted a black-headed python’s distinct head as he walked along the banks of the Archer River, located within the southern boundary of the sanctuary.

Upon closer inspection, he realised that the snake was eating the smaller one.

The larger python had started con.su.ming the live python from the tail and was moving towards it’s head‘I have previously witnessed Black-headed Pythons eating an Eastern Brown Snake and a Yellow Spotted Monitor, however, this was the first time I witnessed a Black-headed Python eating another Black-headed Python.

‘It was a surprise at first, but I feel really fortunate to witness such an event,’ Mr Stock said.

Fortunately for me but not-so-fortunately for the python being con.su.med, it took around 15 minutes from when I first witnessed the initial constriction to the python finishing its meal and returning to its burrow which was only about 10 feet away.