This is the amazing moment a mongoose leaps in the air to bring down a rat snake perched on a tree.

The hapless prey stood no chance against the ferocious predator and was carried away into the forest.

The incident occurred at a village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, India, on August 17.

Quoting eyewitnesses, a forest official of the nearby Polo forest range said the rat snake had come to the village seeking prey. But it saw people and tried to take refuge in a tree.

A mongoose, which had followed it, moved in for the kill.

It climbed the tree following the snake but fell down after losing its grip.

It then stood on its hind legs and leapt up to take down the snake and carry it away.

"A mongoo jumping up two feet to catch a snake is a rare sight," said the official.

The Indian gray mongoose is known for its ability to prey on snakes, even cobras.

They are agile, come equipped with thick coats and specialized acetylcholine receptors that make them resistant to snake venom.