Revealed: The REAL reason a group of cane toads banded together to hitch a ride on a giant snake
- A group of cane toads mounted a python as it slithered through some grassland
- At least 10 cane toads were latched onto the snake's back as it slithered away
- Now the farmer who took the picture has given his reasons for the behaviour
- Most animals in the region are well aware that cane toads aren't a safe meal
The reason behind a viral image of several cane toads catching a ride on the back of a python has been revealed.
The picture, dubbed the most Australian image of 2018, was of a 3.5m python on a Western Australian farm with 10 cane toads on board.
After the unusual sight garnered thousands of views, the man who took the photo, Andrew Mock, took to Twitter to explain what happened.
'68mm just fell in the last hour at Kununurra. Flushed all the cane toads out of my brothers (sic) dam. Some of them took the easy way out - hitching a ride on the back of a 3.5m python,' he wrote.
The reason behind a viral image of several cane toads catching a ride on the back of a python has been revealed (pictured)
The image even attracted the attention of Australian Museum and University of NSW amphibian expert Dr Jodi Rowley, who had a different take.
'Male Cane Toads often get a bit carried away. This AMAZING video reminds me of the time I found a Cane Toad trying to mate with a rotting mango in North Queensland!' she joked.
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Another four cane toads appeared to have jumped off by the time the picture was snapped.
Most animals in the region are well aware cane toads aren't a safe meal, and generally avoid eating the pests for fear of being poisoned.
'68mm just fell in the last hour at Kununurra. Flushed all the cane toads out of my brothers dam. Some of them took the easy way out - hitching a ride on the back of a 3.5m python,' Mr Mock wrote (file photo)
When the toads are threatened, they secrete a milky-white fluid known as bufotoxin that's toxic to many animals.
One user went so far as to say the snake had no choice but to carry the pests on its back.
'The thing is, the snake probably knows not to eat them so he can't attack them to get them off,' one person said.
'I suppose it could roll around on the grass if it wanted to.
'This is the pinnacle of cane toad domination,' said another.
