Boa Constrictor

0:00:02 > 0:00:07On Deadly 60, I've had loads of incredible animal encounters.

0:00:08 > 0:00:11Here's just one of my many favourites.

0:00:11 > 0:00:15This is Deadly 60 Bites!

0:00:15 > 0:00:18This magnificent creature...

0:00:20 > 0:00:21..is a boa constrictor.

0:00:21 > 0:00:25What I'd really like to do is show you how it hunts -

0:00:25 > 0:00:26that's the constrictor bit.

0:00:26 > 0:00:30And to do that, I'm going to need to get control of it.

0:00:34 > 0:00:36'Believe me, with all that solid muscle,

0:00:36 > 0:00:38'this isn't going to hurt the snake at all.'

0:00:38 > 0:00:40Right...

0:00:40 > 0:00:43'So this is what the boa does best.'

0:00:43 > 0:00:47So now, you can see...quite a lot of the snake's bulk

0:00:47 > 0:00:49has gone straight around my neck.

0:00:49 > 0:00:52As I breath out...

0:00:52 > 0:00:54the snake is very subtly

0:00:54 > 0:00:59increasing the pressure around my throat.

0:00:59 > 0:01:00As you can see.

0:01:01 > 0:01:06That's making it more and more difficult for me to breathe.

0:01:06 > 0:01:10And every time I breathe out, it just tightens a little bit more.

0:01:10 > 0:01:14This is what constricting means.

0:01:14 > 0:01:17If you see me starting to go blue or purple in the face,

0:01:17 > 0:01:20then I might need a little bit of help.

0:01:20 > 0:01:24Constricting basically means to strangle,

0:01:24 > 0:01:26to suffocate the life out of prey.

0:01:26 > 0:01:30And that's how this magnificent animal...

0:01:30 > 0:01:32SNAKE HISSES

0:01:32 > 0:01:38..manages to kill the mammals it's feeding on.

0:01:38 > 0:01:40- Oh...- You all right, Steve?

0:01:42 > 0:01:47Actually... Yeah, it's amazing how strong it is.

0:01:47 > 0:01:50'I have a new-found respect for this snake

0:01:50 > 0:01:54'and its potent power. It's truly one impressive animal.'

0:01:54 > 0:01:56Oh...

0:01:56 > 0:01:57HE SIGHS