A series of photographs of a pelican with an impressive beak injury went viral on social media. The images show the bird with the skin pouch beneath its long beak practically torn open, exposing part of its interior.
According to the post, the animal had reportedly tried to swallow a turtle, but the encounter ended unexpectedly.
The turtle allegedly defended itself and caused a serious wound in the pouch pelicans use to catch and handle their food.
The damage is especially concerning because this structure is essential for feeding. An injury of this magnitude could make it difficult for the bird to eat and survive in the wild.
The photographs shared on social media are credited to photographer Tapas Khanra, although the original account could not be independently verified.
It is also not known for certain what happened to the pelican afterward. Although some users fear it did not survive, there is no confirmation of its death.
A scene that shows how unpredictable encounters between wild animals can be.