Welcome to Australia

[Dr Ray]

Andrew came to see me the other day. He had been bitten by a taipan (pronounced tie - pan) about the second or third deadliest snake in the world. Luckily for Andrew, the taipan that he was photographing just wanted him to leave the "hapless" critter alone and to stop annoying.

Andrew with a taipan. Andrew is licensed to keep taipans!

Andrew was trying to take really close-up photos of a taipan and the snake kept disappearing under something (cannot recall under what). Eventually the taipan had had enough and bang! But no venom injected! He was checked at the hospital and he was very, very fortunate indeed!
Another time Andrew came in holding his left hand little finger and said "my death adder just bit me again!". Again!! OMG!!!

Photo above is of a black taipan (friendly fellow)!

Above are newly hatched taipans. Anyone want a pet??

The death adder's venom is very deadly and it tends to make the area go numb in the general bite area whilst attacking the optic nerve!
I might add that a taipan usually strikes 3 or more times in the blink of an eye. The death adder is the fastest striking snake in the world.

I just thought you might like to meet and greet our lovely, friendly Australian animals!

 

[Pheroze]

Very lucky fellow indeed. Does he capture venom - "milk" I believe the term is - for medical purposes?

 

[JPbowhunter]

The inland taipan is the most venomous snake in world. I believe we have 10 of the first 12 or 13.

We have fee deaths because the bad ones have an antivenom and reasonably readily available.

 

[Dr Ray]

Andrew just likes them! He doesn't "milk" them.
I asked him why he kept such dangerous critters. His reply...wait for it..because they are so deadly! OMG beat that one!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Sometimes I think guys like this are crazy. But I got on the ground with an angry lioness nearby once and walked in her direction.

 

[Dr Ray]

And you call Andre crazy! Lol!!

 

[Ridgewalker]

I may need to change my mind about hunting the Northern Territory for water buffalo!

 

[Dr Ray]

I may need to change my mind about hunting the Northern Territory for water buffalo!

It's fine. Common sense just needs to prevail.

 

[CAustin]

Very lucky fellow indeed. Does he capture venom - "milk" I believe the term is - for medical purposes?

I hate snakes! Period. No pets that slither for me. Death to them when I see them.

 

[Nyati]

I like them, but keep a healthy distance

 

[Dr Ray]

Just to clarify the taipan and death adders are different snakes. The latter is a short fat snake that hides under leaves or something and leaves its thin tail for birds. When the prey goes to peck the "worm" the death adder strikes. It is the fastest striker of any snake in the world even faster than the taipan (and tax lot)!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Polar Bears or venomous snakes? I'll take the bears.
Cold weather and deep snow are good for something.

 

[Certus]

Polar Bears or venomous snakes? I'll take the bears.
Cold weather and deep snow are good for something.

Exact opposite here.

I live in Aus and will take our venomous snakes over your large mammalian carnivores any day!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just what you grow up with and get used to I guess.

 

[wesheltonj]

What are the ones that are getting into houses in Adelaide and very deadly?

 

[Dr Ray]

Probably the eastern brown - second deadliest in the world.
We rarely have issues with snakes probably because we’ve grown up with them.
We just use common sense and don’t go looking for trouble.
So Ridgewalker and other members just relax when visiting and use common sense and you’ll be fine!

 

[JPbowhunter]

You're bang on ray, you don't have to be too worried as long as you're smart about it. Avoid long grass and be careful around logs and the like and you're gravy.

 

[sgt_zim]

Polar Bears or venomous snakes? I'll take the bears.
Cold weather and deep snow are good for something.

My best friend absolutely refuses to go to RSA because he's afraid of snakes. I keep trying to tell him RSA winters are colder than Houston, Texas winters. I've never seen a snake around here after maybe mid-November.

 

[Dr Ray]

Maybe other people shouldn’t go to North America because there are mountain lions lurking around every corner.
Lol!

 

[Velo Dog]

Polar Bears or venomous snakes? I'll take the bears.
Cold weather and deep snow are good for something.

+1.