Queensland farmer tries to save joey from pouch of mother being eaten by python

A Queensland farmer has watched on in awe as a python devoured the biggest catch he's seen on New Year's Day.

Bernie Wolsford, of Kuranda, near Cairns, found the 3m serpent with its jaws spread around the large marsupial about 5pm on Sunday.

He told the ABC as the female was being eaten he managed to retrieve a joey from her pouch, but it did not survive.

"It was right in the middle of the paddock, there it was rolling around this huge wallaby and python," Mr Worlsfold told the broadcaster.

"It was an amazing sight.

"I didn't watch it all. I went away to make a cup of tea but came back every hour."

Mr Wolsfold said pythons eating wallabies were not a rare occurrence but he had never seen one so big.

His discovery was only one suburb away from the golf course in Kuranda where last month a python eating a wallaby made international news.