2SER Breakfast

It’s the Lunar New Year and we’ve slithered our way into the Year of the Snake.

Did you know Australia is home to the most venomous snakes on the planet? We have 140 species of land snakes with 12 venomous species of snakes that are potentially lethal to humans.

While their venom is real and the danger to pets and humans are real, snakes are beautiful reptiles that are mostly calm and only attack if they feel theatened. So to celebrate the Year of the Snake we’ll go through some places where you can safely see a snake or two.

Image from: Visitnsw.com

The Australian Reptile Park, Somersby

This reptile park has a Daily Reptile Show that shows twice a day.

You can also check out the Snake Venom Program and the amazing work they do there. This is the place they make anti-venom by safely “milking” venomous snakes which saves hundreds of people from snake bites per year. The Australian Reptile Park is home to 250 venomous snakes that are part of the venom program and are safely milked fortnightly.  

If just seeing a snake isn’t enough, you can adopt a python. Adopt Fluffy the Burmese Python. Your money goes to the work they do; the conservation breeding programs with Aussie Ark, animal care and enrichment programs, education programs for local schools and the life-saving venom milking program.

Image credit: westernsydneyparklands.com.au

Sydney Zoo, Eastern Creek

11am everyday a Reptile Keeper takes you behind the scenes on a Reptile Encounter experience. You’ll get an in-depth look at their venomous snakes, feed different types of reptiles and take photos with a snake or two.

Image credit: Sydney.com

Wildlife Sydney, Darling Harbour

Wildlife Sydney have 2 species of snakes you can visit: the Diamond Python, named so because of its markings, and the Eastern Brown Snake,  the World’s second deadliest snake (and the most seen on the trail throughout Australia). 

Image credit: Symbiowildlife.com.au

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh

Symbio Wildlife Park have a Reptile House you can visit. You get see the Inland Taipan (World’s deadliest snake), the Tiger Snake, Death Adder, Red-Belly Black Snake, and a range of pythons.

They also have crocodiles, alligators, frogs, turtles, dragons (Frill-necked and Bearded), and blue tongue lizards.

These are controlled areas to spot a snake but there’s a lot more snakes out there in the bush:

Depending on where you live, you can come across snakes in your backyard, or on a bush trail in your local area. I’m regularly on a bush trail with both my dogs and I’ve seen a fair share of snakes on the trail (brown, tiger and black). I’ve mostly come across them either heading into the cooler months or during the cooler months they like to sit in the sun and just bask in the sunlight. A lot of the times you think it’s a stick so look where you put your feet, there have been many times I’ve been close to to stepping on one.

If you’re walking with your dog, they usually good at sniffing them out but make sure to keep them away. They may threaten the snake and snakes only attack when they are threatened. LEAVE THEM ALONE. They usually just try to get out of your way.

When we see a snake, what should we do?

• Stand still and watch what it’s doing first. Majority of the time it will see you and just move out of the way.
• It might be sleeping. Try to make vibrations on the ground so it’ll hear you and move out of the way.
• If you can avoid disturbing the snake, go around it if the path is safe.
• If it’s upright, it feels threatened. Back away and give it space until it calms down and moves away itself. Don’t have your back to it – keep it in your line of sight so you can see what’s it’s doing

What happens if you were to get bitten by a snake?

Panic. Jokes! Stay calm.

52% of bites are to the lower limbs (it’s lower to the ground, after all). Snakes don’t always inject venom when they bite but it’s always better to assume this has occurred if you’ve been bitten:

• Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage
• Call 000.
• Take note of the snake – colour & size – if you can take a photo. This helps with finding the anti-venom you require.
• Do not wash or clean the bite wound (suck the poison out). These will also help with distinguishing the anti-venom.
• Stay calm and still until help arrives. Moving may shift the poison throughout the body