Mongoose Turns Tables On Venemous Snake By Sneaking Up On Deadly Boomslang

The boomslang is a large, venomous and frankly terrifying-looking tree snake.

The slender mongoose, meanwhile, is a furry little thing, not nearly as well known for its killer instincts.

Appearances can be deceptive, however, and, unfortunately for this particular boomslang, slender mongoose are renowned for their snake-snaffling skills.

Lunchtime: The hungry mongoose moves in for the kill (Caters)

This is the moment a slender mongoose made a meal of a deadly boomslang.

After spotting the snake in a tree at Etosha National Park, South Africa, the greedy mongoose quickly eyed clambered up, edging closer and closer to the serpent’s head.

Slithering in vain the snake tried to shake the mongoose off but, unable to move, it wasn’t long until the mongoose got close enough to take a bite and sank its teeth in.

Too late: The snake is completely helpless (Caters)

The images were taken by Elana Erasmus from Pretoria, South Africa.

Elana, 48, was on a guided safari at the game reserve in Nambia when she spotted the Mongoose and snake in a tree.

She said: “We were on our way back to camp after the morning’s photography session, when our guide spotted a slender mongoose attacking a boomslang in a tree next to road.

"We realised immediately that this was a very special sighting.

Nom, nom: The mongoose tucks in (Caters)

"Our cameras were already tucked away in their dust covers and we were frantically trying to get our equipment out and ready.

"The mongoose would pursue the boomslang, continuously biting the it on its head while the boomslang tried in vain to get away from its attacker.

"At times the boomslang would curl itself around the slender mongoose in an attempt to defend itself or possibly to kill it with a snake bite, but it was very clear that the slender mongoose was the predator and that this time, the snake was the prey.

"A few times the mongoose would fall out of the tree just to clamber back to continue its relentless attack on the boomslang.

"After a while the boomslang looked tired and worst for wear.

"It was clear that the mongoose had the upper hand.”