A wildlife photographer has captured a rare moment featuring a huge bird eating a small alligator whole.
The incident took place at Florida Wildlife & Exotic Animal Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center, where the photographer Shellie Gilliam works.
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Taking to Facebook to share a video of the predator and its prey, Gilliam captioned the chilling post: "YES, A bird can eat an alligator! This Savage Great Blue Heron spent a half hour killing and consuming a large juvenile Alligator near Lake Apopka.
"I spotted it just after it had captured the alligator a few hundred yards away and then it flew with the alligator in his mouth to this spot where he consumed it. Just Wow! I posted my photos too."
Gilliam further explained in the comments that the bird is a "great blue heron", and so is "a savage predator."
"They can eat just about anything they get their beak into," she adds.
Related video - This footage shows humpback whales using bubbles to subdue their prey:
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Gilliam also shared a series of photos featuring the moment the great blue heron chowed down on the unsuspecting alligator.
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She wrote in the caption: "The Heron caught the alligator a few hundred yards away where I spotted it first then it flew with it in its mouth to this spot where the GBH spent about 25 minutes finishing the alligator off and consuming it."
Needless to say, people had plenty of things to say about the documented moment of a predator eating its prey whole.
One person wrote: "Shellie this is an amazing video as well as amazing pics that you captured. I have seen the pics all over the place so I hope that people are giving you the credit you deserve for them. Another reason your just an Awesome Person Ms. Shellie."
Another commenter said: "Great footage! I figured it happened. Seen them take some big a** food. Incredible animal."
A third commenter took pity on the young prey, writing: "I know it’s just the nature of the beast that sad poor baby [alligator]!"
