A baby possum has been rescued from its dead mother's pouch moments before she was devoured by a python in front of shocked campers at a popular caravan park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Richard and Debbie Kemps from Brisbane were caravanning at the Coolum Beach caravan park and had seen a python they estimated to be 3 metres long in the tree above them on Tuesday night.
Mr Kemps saw the snake moving up the tree again the next morning.
"In a few minutes it had grabbed the possum and dropped it to the ground," Mr Kemps said.
He said he believed the python may have asphyxiated the possum because it was dead when it landed on the ground.
"The [caravan park's] caretaker noticed the pouch and went and pulled a baby out of it," Mr Kemps said.
The tiny possum was still alive but didn't look to be very old.
Wildlife rescuers were called in to see if the baby could be saved — it's mother wasn't as lucky.
The python took the possum underneath the Kemps' car where it slowly devoured the animal as campers watched on.
"It was quite an educational experience," Mr Kemps said.
"We have a small dog, the possum was probably bigger than a dog. You imagine what it could do to some of the pets here.
"It wasn't scared of any of the people around."
Once the python had swallowed the possum the caretaker used a broom to move it back into the bush.
"Apparently it comes and goes," Mr Kemps said.
"In a few days it might get hungry."
Wildlife carers have not advised of the baby possum's condition.
