The hornbill family risked their lives to find a way to kill two venomous snakes to feed their young.

In a daring display of survival instincts, a family of Hoopoe birds risked their lives to hunt down and kill a venomous snake pair in order to feed their young.

The extraordinary incident took place in Kruger National Park, South Africa, and was witnessed by 70-year-old tourist Piet Blignaut on June 29th, as reported by Latest Sightings. Initially, the birds were casually moving along the path, foraging for food beneath the ground. Suddenly, the Hoopoe birds became agitated and fixated on something in the distance. As Blignaut’s group approached closer, they discovered the two venomous snakes in the act of mating, oblivious to the impending danger.

The venomous snake, known for its lightning-fast strike at a speed of a quarter of a second and its highly toxic venom causing excruciating tissue damage, is notorious for its lethal capabilities. It remains motionless for months, patiently awaiting its prey, earning the nickname “living coffin.” Like many snake species, they find a mate through a courtship ritual. The male snake releases a distinctive scent to attract the females. Once the female snake is receptive, they engage in a twisting and intertwining dance, flicking their tongues.

The male Hoopoe bird strategically calculated its attack. Its eyes were fixed on the venomous snake pair. It gathered all its momentum and lunged accurately at the first venomous snake. Caught off guard, the snake succumbed to the successive attacks by the Hoopoe bird and met its demise on the ground. The female bird and the offspring swiftly joined the assault, targeting the remaining snake and successfully killing it as well. However, the Hoopoe bird family did not stop there. They proceeded to peck and trample upon the snake’s lifeless body, ensuring its complete immobilization before commencing their meal.

The Hoopoe bird is one of the most unique bird species in Africa. Being the largest cooperative breeding bird in the world, it stands at a meter tall, with a distinctive curved beak and a vibrant red face, making them highly conspicuous as they stride through grasslands in search of lizards, snakes, small mammals, and other bird species. Although they typically nest in tall trees, their diminishing habitat has led to a significant reduction in their range, now estimated to be only 10-30%. Consequently, their population has also suffered a considerable decline.

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