--- title: See Photos of What Happens When a Python Swallows a Porcupine description: Sometimes you just have to watch what you eat canonical: https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/ author: Rishi Iyengar article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-06-25T08:30:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:48:22.616Z og:title: This Is What Happens When a Python Swallows a Porcupine og:description: It doesn't end well og:url: https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt866ea09251ed72d5/6988583f524fc0da45df3481/11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n.jpg?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: 11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Is What Happens When a Python Swallows a Porcupine twitter:description: It doesn't end well twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt866ea09251ed72d5/6988583f524fc0da45df3481/11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n.jpg?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Is What Happens When a Python Decides to Swallow a Porcupine Whole ## Video: Pythons Devour Florida: Help Wanted [Watch (HLS stream): Pythons Devour Florida: Help Wanted](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KJSpw4eN.m3u8) (4:55)  _Published 2014-07-09. The invasive Burmese Python, native to Burma, is a huge problem for Florida's Everglades. For the last 20 years there has been an average decline in 98% of the everglades' small mammal population, and the Python is suspected to be the root of that_ by [Rishi Iyengar](https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Jun 25, 2015 8:30 AM UTC  Lake Eland Game Reserve by [Rishi Iyengar](https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Jun 25, 2015 8:30 AM UTC Pythons are known for being able to swallow prey several times their size, with [incredibly flexible jaws](http://www.livescience.com/32096-how-do-snakes-swallow-large-animals.html) that allow the massive snakes to ingest anything from pigs and cats (or [baby wallabies](http://time.com/3649411/python-baby-wallaby/)) to antelopes, wildebeests or even humans. In comparison, a rodent just a fraction of its length and weighing 13.8 kg shouldn’t be much of a problem. But not if that rodent is a porcupine, as a 3.9-m-long African Rock Python at the Lake Eland Game Reserve in South Africa found out. The python was found dead over the weekend with the dead porcupine still fully intact inside it — except for several of its sharp quills, which were firmly lodged inside the snake’s digestive tract in what didn’t end up being a very happy meal. The game reserve posted several images of the grisly find to its [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/lakeelandgamereserve/posts/857801947623583). **WARNING: Features graphic images.** _Read next:_ [_What’s the World’s Deadliest Creature?_](http://time.com/3935262/whats-the-worlds-deadliest-creature/?iid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day_](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/autoplay/?xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ### Baby Beckham Meet [**Baby Beckham**](http://instagram.com/baby.beckham), a gorgeous (and ultra-fluffy) Samoyed who spends his days hiking and going for dips in cold mountain streams. Follow him for a nonstop adventure, but beware that you’ll probably get jealous of his life. ### Ginny [**Ginny**](http://instagram.com/ginny%5Fjrt/) the Jack Russell Terrier has a wide range of interests, including frolicking, playing, eating treats and, most importantly, napping. ### Major [**Major**](http://instagram.com/majortheyorkie/) the Yorkshire Terrier knows how to kick back, relax, and just enjoy life. ### Lucielle Bull Want to see beautifully composed portraits of a stunning bulldog? Then follow [**Lucy**](http://instagram.com/lucyfarted/). Sadly, her photos aren’t terribly frequent, but they’re always worth the wait. ### Harry [**Harry**](http://instagram.com/harrythedowniepug/) lives in Sweden with his mom, who uses Instagram to document his “pug life.” This mostly includes eating, sleeping, competing with babies for attention, investigating American pop culture, and striking out with the ladies. ### Marnie With 1.7 million Instagram followers, [**Marnie**](http://instagram.com/marniethedog) the 12-year-old Shih Tzu is a true Internet star. She’s known for her tilted head and her perpetually lolling tongue. ### Menswear Dog [**Menswear Dog**](http://instagram.com/mensweardog) (real name: Bodhi) is an exceptionally handsome Shiba Inu with a better wardrobe than anyone you know. ### Chloe [**Chloe**](https://instagram.com/chloetheminifrenchie/) is tiny, adorable and fashionable. And, as a French Bulldog, she is very in touch with her roots. ### Dean the Basset [**Dean**](https://instagram.com/deanthebasset/) is known for his gloriously long ears, his deep love for lounging, and his emotive eyes. ### Lilly, Silas and Gustav For some true diversity, follow these pups: [**Lilly**](https://instagram.com/lillyandthehairless) is a Pekingese/terrier mix and [**Silas**](https://instagram.com/lillyandthehairless) is a Chinese Crested. As a bonus, you’ll also get to know a hairless cat named [**Gustav**](https://instagram.com/lillyandthehairless). ### Burrito This is a corgi puppy. Named [**Burrito**](https://instagram.com/burrito%5Fthe%5Fcorgi/). He is perfect. ### Doug the Pug [**Doug the Pug**](https://instagram.com/itsdougthepug/) is the self-declared King of Pop Culture, and once you start following him, you’ll see why. He frequently recreates scenes from your favorite TV shows, eats your favorite foods, and sometimes poses with your favorite celebrities. ### Toby [**Toby**](https://instagram.com/tobypuff/), also known as Tobypuff, is a remarkably fluffy chow. You’ll see him do things like learning how to swim, romping around beautiful gardens, and desperately trying to befriend other dogs. ### Snowy [**Snowy**](https://instagram.com/snowyfoxterrier/) is a wire fox terrier with boundless energy and extraordinary cuteness. Because he’s only 3 months old, you’ll watch him grow up — and navigate the world of obedience school. ### Rufio [**Rufio**](https://instagram.com/lil%5Frufio/?hl=en) is a Pomsky, which is a Pomeranian Husky mix. And oh, what a beautiful mix that is. Sometimes you’ll see Rufio doing typical dog activities like climbing into the dishwasher; other times you’ll see him lounging at a beach resort. ### Corgnelius and Stumphrey [**Corgnelius and Stumphrey**](https://instagram.com/corgnelius) (also known by their nicknames, Corgi and Stump Stump) are two corgi brothers living in Los Angeles. After following these two, you’ll quickly see how much they love each other and how cute they are when they play together. ### Maru [**Maru**](http://instagram.com/marutaro), a very fluffy and very smiley Shiba Inu from Japan, brings joy to his 1.9 million Instagram followers every day. He posts an adorable goodnight photo or video every night, and will frequently encourage you to “be smile.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/"},"headline":"This Is What Happens When a Python Decides to Swallow a Porcupine Whole","datePublished":"2015-06-25T08:30:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:48:22.616Z","description":"Sometimes you just have to watch what you eat","url":"https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/","keywords":["Newsfeed","animals","Dead"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt866ea09251ed72d5/6988583f524fc0da45df3481/11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rishi Iyengar","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt866ea09251ed72d5/6988583f524fc0da45df3481/11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"11535876_857800534290391_1549162585137631552_n","caption":"","creditText":"Lake Eland Game Reserve","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3935146/phython-porcupine-swallow-dead-quills-south-africa/","name":"This Is What Happens When a Python Decides to Swallow a Porcupine Whole"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Pythons Devour Florida: Help Wanted","description":"The invasive Burmese Python, native to Burma, is a huge problem for Florida's Everglades. 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