Aladdin jokes aside, what you are actually witnessing is a remarkable battle for survival as a Green woodpecker attempts to escape the predatory clutches of a weasel. The incredible photo was caught on camera by amateur bird watcher and photographer Martin Le-May who spotted the event in East London’s Hornchurch Country Park.

Since being posted on Twitter yesterday afternoon, the photo has gone viral and has been published by news outlets around the world. Le-May explains that the woodpecker was feeding on some ground-dwelling insects when the weasel went for the sneak attack. Naturally the bird tried to take flight and the pair got as high as 10 ft before landing again where the woodpecker managed to free itself and live another day.

 

[Sources: Mashable, Slate, Jason Ward on Twitter, Martin Le-May on Twitter]