How does the digestive system process of a heron consume a whole wriggling fish work wouldn't the unlucky prey stand a slim chance of escape or damaging the birds stomach if eaten in that condition?

Herons have a specialized digestive system that allows them to consume whole prey, like fish, without significant risk of injury. When a heron catches a fish, it swallows it whole, aided by its long neck and strong throat muscles. The fish is quickly pushed down into the stomach, where digestive acids and enzymes break it down. While the fish may still be wriggling, the heron's stomach is designed to handle such situations, and the rapid swallowing minimizes the chance of escape or injury.