Villagers of Mallik Sobha, Jalpaiguri district have attempted to rescue a goat being swallowed by a python after they heard its distress cry in a nearby forest.
When they rushed to the spot, they were dumbfounded to see a 20-feet long python coiling around the lifeless body of the goat and trying to devour it.
They soon contacted a wildlife squad but the team could not reach the incident on time.
In an effort to save the livestock, ten men quickly pulled the goat out of the python's mouth but by that time it had already died.
They then tied ropes around the python and pushed it into the sack, holding it by the neck and took it in a cycle rickshaw, as no animal rescue van was available to release in the Sonakhali forest.
Rohul Amin, to whom the goat belonged, said: "This is not the first time pythons have come out of the forest and attacked domestic animals.
"They have killed two to three cows, lambs and sheep in a year. I am heartbroken with my loss. I had never imagined my goat would meet with end this way."
Narayan Kar, the forest officer who received the villagers call and rushed to the spot identified the snake as a Burmese Rock Python.