Photos: Python swallows Antelope

The scene was caught in an Indian village by photographer Nitish Bambhaniya, who dashed 40km (25 miles) to the scene on a motorbike after receiving a tip-off.

As a crowd gathered around the Indian rock python, it released the antelope and let go of its lifeless prey.

Mr Bambhaniya explained that the enormous meal wasn’t too much for the python – it just didn’t like being watched while it ate.

He said: ‘Pythons do it so that they can shed body weight and escape faster.’

Villagers in Billa, in the state of Gujarat, wanted to kill it fearing it would be a danger to children.

But they were persuaded to release it into a forest. See more photos...