boonloke
A HEFTY HAUL
the Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The pelican had pouched a large carp. Its upheld beak was shaking and the carp's head was threatening to burst through the pouch as the pelican swam round and round a small circle. I first thought that the pelican was choking and was in trouble. Some time later it violently straightened its neck and swallowed the fish into its throat. The pelican's neck was still swollen with the carp inside when it swam away. I later came to realise that the pelican had held the carp in its pouch to suffocate it until it was motionless before swallowing it.
A HEFTY HAUL
the Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The pelican had pouched a large carp. Its upheld beak was shaking and the carp's head was threatening to burst through the pouch as the pelican swam round and round a small circle. I first thought that the pelican was choking and was in trouble. Some time later it violently straightened its neck and swallowed the fish into its throat. The pelican's neck was still swollen with the carp inside when it swam away. I later came to realise that the pelican had held the carp in its pouch to suffocate it until it was motionless before swallowing it.