A local snake catcher is pinching himself after his photo of a python wrapped around what appears to be bread rolls was published by Australian Geographic.
The curious image is in fact a carpet python wrapped around her clutch of eggs, covering and incubating them for hatching.
Snake catcher Daniel Busstra said that shortly after posting the picture onto social media and it “blowing up”, an Australian Geographic journalist reached out to him asking to write a story about the “bread roll” snake eggs.
“It was huge, I was very excited and privileged to have them reach out to me like that,” the Coes Creek local said.
“It felt amazing. I don’t consider myself a photographer, I am just mad passionate about animals … I love anything to do with them.
“But it was awesome opportunity to share my image and knowledge – it was such a proud moment for me.”
Trading under the business name Snake Catcher Dan, Mr Busstra snapped the picture while out at a job on a property in Witta, near Maleny, where he was removing a three-metre python.
The homeowner told him about her neighbour having a python sitting on eggs in his garden and invited him to take a look.
“I am absolutely passionate about what I do and can’t get enough of snakes, so I jumped at the opportunity,” he said.
“The photo is exactly how I found them, nothing over the top.
“The reason the eggs are a little brown and look a bit burnt on top and not white is because mum has left the eggs a little more exposed to the elements than most pythons would do.
“Normally they will bury them into a pile of mulch and underneath things so they are more out of the sun.”
He said it was common for carpet python eggs to be fused together like that.
“The eggs come out individually and she wraps them up and pulls them into a ball like that to cover them, to transfer her heat to them more efficiently,” he said.
He said there could be a several reasons why the eggs were uncovered, such as another animal interfering with them or the python being a first-time mum.
“She is doing an amazing job and I found her wrapped around them like that sleeping. I didn’t disturb her, I took the photo and walked away,” he said.
“The homeowner was very keen to let her do her natural thing and let the babies come out there, which I was thrilled about.”
Moving forward, Mr Busstra said he would be “doing his thing” helping the Sunshine Coast catch and relocate snakes and keeping his eyes peeled for anything unusual to snap.
He said he’s been contacted by other wildlife publications to share the interesting picture.
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