Nature - 2nd prize
Gilles Nicolet
Saola for National Geographic
Saola for National Geographic
01 January, 1997
The snake held here by one of few hunters versed in capturing pythons, is only 3.5m long (the African rock python can grow up to 6 meters). Its lower jaw is split, probably as a result of a fight. The vast Adamaoua plateau is home to a great variety of animal species. Python hunters crawl into the snakes' lairs, grab them with their bare hands and pull them out by their heads. Pythons don't usually get aggressive until they are brought out into the light.