Seagull Swallows a Whole Rabbit on Welsh Island

This video is showing a great black-backed seagull swallowing a rabbit in one big gulp on the Welsh island of Skomer has clocked up hundreds of thousands of views online. Unsurprising, really, as it’s a compelling, if rather gruesome, sight.

This video was posted to a Twitter account run by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and has been met with comments such as “Grotesque but majorly impressive” and “That gave me indigestion just watching!”

Gina Gavigan, the marketing and development manager at the trust, told Storyful that there was nothing out of the ordinary about the scene. Rabbits are an important part of the birds diet, she said, especially “when none or very few small seabirds or seabird chicks are available.”

The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull family.

Credit: The Wildlife Trusts Skomer Island via Storyful

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[thefreeburningspirit]

Before meal: seagull

After meal: landgull

[NinjacatIlovebigfloppa]

Seagull: *Eats whole rabbit*

Also seagull: *Now what*

[zubiac]

The rabbit was so big, it literally turned the seagull into a penguin

[LeoVKMusic]

The seagull is now essentially a dead rabbit wearing a seagull costume.

[maudeellina]

You can see even the other seagull was scared for his safety and left.

[EATSLEEPDRIVE]

I love how once the rabbit is halfway down, you can tell the seagull is reconsidering his life choices

[read]

I like how the camera begins to slowly shake more and more as if he's terrified

[puppaalbo]

Damn this bird went from Seagull to Steven Seagal real quick

[AllAhabNoMoby]

The other gull: "Dude that's disgusting. Eat a fish."

[deadsoldiertr]

Seagull 1: Do you want one bite from my bunny?
Seagull 2: Yeah.
Seagull 1: Just one
Seagull 2: OK, just one bite...

[dngnascar]

The Seagull who ate the rabbit just stood there like: “I messed up...”

[olsen]

Legend has it, he’s still sitting there, digesting in peace.

[masterturbo]

Looks like the seagull was thinking: "maybe this was a bad idea" after shoving and entire rabbit down it's throat

[bringbackbomberio]

"Can I have a bite?"
The bite:

[AeroRain]

The seagull didn’t think that one through. At the end he’s like “well now what” after getting absolutely stuffed lol

[grbadalamenti]

Starters: Rabbit
First course: Rabbit
Second first course (bis): Rabbit
Second course: Rabbit
Dessert: Rabbit
Amaro and coffee: Rabbit

No tips

[jofol]

Friend: Can I have a bite?
Me: Sure

The 'bite':

[rohankumarpanigrahi]

People dislike pythons and anacondas.
Meanwhile - Harmless looking seagull does this.

[yammez]

Other seagull walks away like "David, go on a diet."

[maxavery]

Their bodies are surprisingly equipped to handle such large meals, even if it seems absurd to us. Let me break it down:

1. Swallowing a Whole Rabbit

Seagulls have very flexible, elastic throats and stomachs. Their esophagus can stretch enormously to accommodate large prey like rabbits, fish, or even other birds. This ability evolved because they often eat prey that cannot easily be torn apart or shared, and swallowing whole is their best option.

2. How They Digest It

Once swallowed, the rabbit would end up in the seagull’s stomach, where its digestive system does the work. Their stomachs are highly acidic, which allows them to break down meat, fur, and even small bones. The rabbit wouldn’t sit there and rot — it would be broken down relatively quickly.
However, anything they can't digest (e.g., large bones, claws, fur) is regurgitated later as a pellet.

3. Can It Kill the Gull?

Eating something so large is risky. If the rabbit is too big, it could harm or even kill the seagull by blocking its digestive tract or causing internal injuries. However, gulls are usually pretty good at gauging what they can manage. That said, a meal this size might take days to fully digest, and the bird might struggle to move or fly while it processes such a massive meal.

4. Why Doesn’t It Poison Them?

Unlike humans, seagulls are well-adapted to eating things that might seem toxic or unsafe to us. Their digestive systems are designed to handle raw, decomposing, or even rotting meat without issue, thanks to their incredibly strong stomach acid.

5. Why Do They Do This?

Seagulls are opportunists. If a large, easy prey (like a rabbit) presents itself, they'll take advantage, even if it seems like a challenge. This behavior increases their chances of survival, especially in harsh environments where food can be scarce.

So, while it’s shocking to watch, this behavior is all part of nature’s sometimes brutal efficiency. The seagull’s body is a marvel of adaptation, capable of handling such a gruesome feast!