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Photographer Captures Incredible Moment Eagle Flies Off With Pig

Photographer Captures Incredible Moment Eagle Flies Off With Pig

The unfortunate pig was scooped up and carried off by the huge eagle

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A photographer managed to snap a perfectly timed picture showing an eagle flying off with an unfortunate little piglet.

The incredible photograph was taken by 75-year-old Clarke Espie in Queensland, Australia after he heard a piglet squealing and grabbed his camera.

Media Drum World

Clarke said he was heading back to a campsite in Cromarty Wetlands when he heard the shriek coming from the sky, he instinctively reached for his camera and could hardly believe what he was seeing as the unfortunate pig was carried off.

He said: "I had been invited to capture the unique and diverse birdlife inhabiting these world class wetlands.

"Little did I imagine witnessing two massive sea eagles swooping low over my vehicle, one with a feral pig firmly gripped in its powerful talons.

"Despite its powerful wings, the sea eagle struggled to gain altitude before landing its prey upon a small island within the wetlands, where together the eagles shared the prey.

"I hurriedly snapped these images with a 500mm Telephoto lens as the sea eagles swept past.

"It was one of the most unusual sights I've seen. I thought it must've been a fish at first but as soon as I focused, I could see it was a piglet. It must have weighed around 5kg. Definitely not something I've witnessed before."

Media Drum World

Australia has around 24 million feral pigs - and the animals are regarded as pests in Queensland due to the fact they spread weeds, prey on native species and damage crops and stock.

White-bellied sea eagles can have a whopping seven-foot wingspan and are normally spotted high up in trees or flying over water around the Australian coast - the animals usually pair up for life, like the two you can see in Clarke's picture.

They mainly live off aquatic animals, like fish and turtles, making the photograph all the more impressive.

Clarke, who previously worked as a commercial diver and documentary-maker for 35-years, added: "I've seen the imposing white-bellied sea eagle carnivore swoop in a shallow dive to snatch prey in its massive and powerful talons, taking fish, waterbirds, turtles, rabbits, flying foxes etc. before now, but this was something very rarely seen.

"I was astounded."

Featured Image Credit: Media Drum World

Topics: Animals, Australia