That is a pic linked to our Pro Exotics FAQ on feeding live prey items.

Not our pic, I also found it on teh Internets of Webs many years ago. I think it was probably a live mouse that did the damage, over a few days time.

I am not a fan of feeding live, I would rather see keepers feed thawed, but that is a different discussion.

But I think that this pic IS relevant to feeding live. There is negligence and ignorance at the source of the pic, for sure, but most likely what has happened is the keeper put in a live mouse. When they went back to check it, the mouse was "gone" and "eaten". But in actuality, the mouse was hiding in the hide spot, behind/under the water bowl, sometimes even under the snake...

The keeper thinks all is good, and safe, until they look in again 2 days later, and find shock and horror. This pic breaks my heart every time.

But it DOES happen. We have had it happen here at PE, a couple of times. Never anything like this, but a half inch of skin chewed off? Sure. That happens. You are going through 400 babies or juvies, and feeding live to the stubborn feeders. You try and be thorough and pull all the live, of course, but that one hiding mouse...

Sometimes he just poops all over the cage and spills the water bowl. And sometimes...

I remember two snakes with bad half inch bare patches eaten off. We put those animals down. I couldn't tell you how many times I have fed live mice/rats and seen a poorly grabbed rodent turn around and start biting a snake neck or head. That type of reality is what got me turning hard to thawed prey in the first place.

If you can feed thawed prey, I would absolutely suggest it.

And I still hate that picture...

BTW, the FAQ says "don't look at the pic, and even then, don't look at the pic (this Ball python is still very much alive, but must be put down as soon as possible), but if you must see it to believe it, it is here."