Susanta Nanda, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, has gained a large following on social media due to his captivating wildlife videos. In a recent post, Nanda shared a rare sight of a deer consuming a snake, despite being known as herbivores that primarily eat plants. The video was captured by a passerby in a car and has since garnered attention from animal enthusiasts worldwide.
As the man records the video, a deer can be spotted on the side of the road in a forested area, munching on a snake. The man’s voice can be heard in the background, questioning what he’s seeing. National Geographic explains that deer may turn to meat-eating when they lack essential minerals like phosphorous, salt, and calcium, which can be scarce during the winter months when plant life is limited.
Cameras are helping us understand Nature better.
— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) June 11, 2023
Yes. Herbivorous animals do eat snakes at times. pic.twitter.com/DdHNenDKU0
Cameras are helping us understand Nature better.
Yes. Herbivorous animals do eat snakes at times. pic.twitter.com/DdHNenDKU0
— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) June 11, 2023
Despite being classified as herbivores, deer have been known to exhibit unusual behavior when it comes to their diet. In times of food scarcity or when lacking essential minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, they may resort to consuming meat. This was demonstrated in a video shared by the Science Girl page, which showed a deer eating a snake. This behavior is possible due to the deer’s rumen, which aids in the digestion of tough plant matter like cellulose.
