To Be Prey I

​The most dangerous part of the jungle is the jungle floor. Many creatures that are basic prey have evolved to navigate the tree tops with ease. Hiding themselves among the canopy turned out not to be the most simple decision as nature spat out another evolution of the snake that could grow large enough to climb trees. I sat in a tree house inside a jungle and observed it all.

There was an incident in particular which I found most fascinating. I woke up early one morning in my sealed home and walked to the large glass window that allowed me to watch the creatures. There was one snake in particular I saw that was truly massive, it was hard to miss after watching the same set of vines and trees for so long. I couldn’t help but think that a creature that size would be more a danger to large predators as well as simple monkeys. However, I was surprised to see I was more than accurate about this thought later the same day.

The snake had fallen still in order to camouflage a little better along the tree and branches. It was ingenious, but something I had seen a million times. What made this situation different was the jaguar that was wandering along the jungle floor. I collected a pad and checked the camera to see if it was recording. Once that was done I observed the snake as the jaguar wondered past. Eventually it got so close to the snake that I was on the edge of my seat expecting for the basilisk-size creature to lash out and attack.

It never did. I counted the jaguar lucky, most likely the head of the snake was somewhere else. Still, on my observations of jungle predators and prey, the prey always learn how to defend themselves and the predator develop a new way to get its food. The circle of life repeats, but with each revolution there is evolution. Creatures change and adapt, although not as fast as plants, a lot faster than most believe.

It was when I moved to turn off the camera that I noticed the slowest movement out of the corner of my eye. Turning my head I saw the snake slither across the glass, ever so slowly. Once it had reached my end of the pane it lowered its head and it’s eyes seemed to meet mine for the briefest of seconds. I wondered how this was possible, it was one-way glass. I could see through, but it could only see itself. It was only when I looked closer towards its eyes that I saw that the colour was strange.

In that instant I knew I wasn’t observing a typical python, but rather an entirely different breed of snake. I marveled at its beauty for so long I almost felt lost. The way it moved, they way it observed me as I did it. It was one of the most terrifying, but fulfilling moments of my life. To be so close to a new species that could put your name in the paper, but at the same time, to be observed as a predator observed its prey.

The snake continued to slither around the jungle area that I observed. A truly amazing find that I took hours of footage of as well as made notes one. I knew for sure that it could not see through the glass, but it certainly was able to follow where I was. Perhaps it didn’t use simple sight to locate its prey, perhaps smell, but I had the feeling it was more in depth than that. I wanted to try something different one day to test out this hunch. I walked past the pane of glass and the snake eyes followed me closely. I then contained myself in clothing that protected my heat signature.

My hunch proved true because once I walked past the snake it continued to watch the same side where I left. It was as if I was invisible to the snake, but I had to test and see if it was purely heat signature. For the first time in years I pressed a button that slid the first panel of one-way glass, leaving only a pane of two-way. I stared out at the snake and he continued to stare at that one side. It was incredible and terrifying. Truly an ability like that coupled with its size would make it the true king of the jungle.

I documented findings, day-after-day and soon my interest grew braver than fear. I wanted to contain it, but I could not do it alone. I informed the organization, sent them the footage and related my findings to them. I told them about the massive, new breed of snake and its extraordinary capabilities. Immediately they sent a team of their best hunters, armed with enough sleep darts to put several elephants to sleep and wearing suits that would hide their heat signature.

I was sent a tracker from them and waited for their approach. While I did this I kept the snake’s attention. It observed me as I drank my coffee. I would have nightmares of it, I knew that much, but it was guaranteed when the team entered the observation area. The snake turned from me and dove towards the first hunter. His tail lashed out knocking others to the ground. The entire area became alive as the full length of its body moved. I heard screams, each cut off with a chilling hiss and crunch as the sword-like fangs bit into each hunter, silencing them or paralyzing them for a slow death,

I stood there and watched in horror. The snake could see well-enough, not just heat-signatures. In essence, I was trapped in my box, with the world's most deadly predator coiling its body around my home. The snakes head returned, a snout covered in blood and black tongue flicking out at me. I felt I was no longer an observer, I was the observed and I would either die in this box or risk escaping into the jungle.​