Pair of venomous snakes pecked to death by hornbill

South Africa A family of hornbills risked their lives trying to kill two venomous snakes to feed their young.

Pair of venomous snakes pecked to death by hornbill

A family of hornbills kills a pair of snakes for food. Video: Latest Sightings

70-year-old tourist Piet Blignaut witnessed a pair of ground hornbills hunting in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Latest Sightings reported on June 29. Initially, they walked along the road and groped for food on the ground. Then, the hornbills suddenly stirred and stared at something in the distance. As Blignaut's group approached, they discovered two venomous spitting snakes mating, despite the approaching danger.

The spitting cobra is known for its quarter-second bite speed and extremely painful tissue necrosis-inducing venom. It lies motionless for months on end, stalking its prey, earning it the nickname “living coffin.” Like many other snakes, it pairs by finding a mate. Males release a special scent to attract females. When females are ready to mate, they perform a dance of twisting their bodies and wagging their tongues.

The male ground hornbill calculated the precise attack. His eyes were focused on the pair of venomous snakes. He charged at full speed at the first snake. Caught off guard, the snake died on the ground under the hornbill’s continuous attack. The female and her chicks quickly joined in. They targeted the remaining snake and successfully killed it. But the family of hornbills did not stop there. They pecked and stomped on the snake’s body to make sure it was still moving before they began to eat.

The ground hornbill is one of Africa’s most unique birds. The world’s largest cooperative bird, adults stand one meter tall, have long curved bills, and bright red faces that make them stand out as they stalk the grasslands in search of lizards, snakes, small mammals, and other birds. Hornbills typically nest high in trees, but habitat loss has reduced their range to just 10–30%. As a result, their numbers have declined dramatically.

An Khang (According to Latest Sightings )

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