So, this is what the boa does best.
Right.
Let's see if I can show you a little bit more about how this snake hunts.
So, now you can see quite a lot of the snake's bulk
is going to straight around my neck.
Around here is where my windpipe is, where air comes in and out of my lungs
and also where the arteries are that carry blood to my brain.
Now, as I breathe out...
the snake is very subtly...
increasing the pressure around my throat, as you can see.
That's making it more and more difficult for me to breathe.
And every time I breathe out, it just tightens a little bit more
until eventually I can't get any air in or out of my lungs
and already, at this stage...
if I wasn't...
just to ease the pressure... I would be finding breathing very difficult indeed.
This is what constricting means.
If you see me starting to go blue or purple in the face,
then I might need a little bit of help.
Constricting basically means to strangle, to suffocate the life out of prey,
and that's how this magnificent animal...
manages to kill the mammals it's feeding on.
Oh, its tail is going round the back of my neck now.
It's just finding places and ways of getting purchase
to use its really strong muscles... in choking me.
Now, only got quite a short time that I can show you this
before I'm going to have to release myself
The amazing thing that happens next...
is that the boa constrictor will actually start to swallow its prey whole.
And, to do that, it can open this mouth incredibly wide.
You all right, Steve?
Actually...
Yeah, yeah, it's amazing how strong it is.