Hungry python stuns Byron Bay crowd by swallowing entire possum

Watching a python devour a possum might leave most of us squirming in horror, but for self-professed snake lover Michelle Hunjak, she hit the jackpot. 

Ms Hunjak was walking back from Byron Bay's lighthouse on Sunday with her sister Simone, when the pair stumbled across the huge python halfway through devouring a possum while hanging from a tree.

“I really love snakes so it was amazing to see the feeding in person. I had no idea they would be able to eat something like that,” Michelle told 9news.com.au.

“I was more intrigued and excited rather than scared.”

The sisters, originally from Sydney, watched the spectacle for about 15 minutes and were joined by a growing crowd.

“I would have loved to stay and watch the whole thing,” Michelle said, adding the pair had to go.

They believe the snake was a carpet python, which has an average length of 1.4m and is not venomous.

Dan Rumsey, head reptile keeper from the Australian Reptile Park, said it isn’t unusual for large-bodied pythons to consume food items seven times as big as their head.

“They aren’t venomous but they have teeth, so they’ll use their teeth and their constrictions to consume their prey. It’s pretty common for pythons to feed on possums, as larger food items are more beneficial so they don’t have to eat as regularly,” he said.

“They love trees, people’s houses and suburban areas in general.”