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A seagull was caught on camera pulling a wild rabbit out of a hole and swallowing it whole in gruesome footage.

In the video captured on Skomer Island, a nature reserve cared for by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, the great black-backed gull manages to down the entire creature in just several large gulps.

The defiant bird drags the rabbit out of an underground hole and bites onto its head.

It then lifts the furred animal up and chokes it down as another bird watches on.

For a couple of seconds, it looks like it may have bitten off more than it could chew with this particular rabbit, but with a quick pause the rabbit's back legs disappear down the gull's throat.

(Image: Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales/Skomer Island)

The gull looks slightly wobbly but then recovers and is seemingly satisfied by his extra large meal.

While it might be seem bizarre and impossible, the Wildlife Trust experts on Skomer Island said rabbits are actually an important part of their diet.

They told Wales Online: "Rabbits are an important part of their diet when none or very few small seabirds or seabird chicks are available."

The island is now seeing its more famous residents, puffins, return after the long winter and this summer is welcoming more than ever.

On the neighbouring island of Skokholm, the team has counted 8,534 puffins so far – the highest April total since 1953.

The tourist season has stalled during lockdown and the usual boatloads of visitors have been suspended during the coronavirus crisis.

The wildlife seems unperturbed by the lack of people and is enjoying having the island to themselves this Easter.