Snakes
Ashmore Reef: Researchers find no sea snakes
Sea snakes, once numerous at Ashmore Reef, appear to have disappeared entirely now.
A recent WA Museum survey found none at all.
However they found three species at the shoals closer to the mainland, which had never been surveyed for snakes before.
Science Network WA [read this story]
Ashmore Reef: Seasnake numbers well down
Scientists surveying sea snakes at Ashmore Reef say some species have disappeared.
This occurred well before the Montara oil spill disaster of 2009.
A sea snake expert described it as one of the most marked declines of a large marine vertebrate ever recorded.
Science Network [read this story]
This story also appeared in The West Australian last Wednesday.
More snakes in houses
Wildlife officers are reporting more callouts to remove snakes from houses.
Photo: Allen McCloud
An officer told the ABC the snakes are hunting mice and frogs as they prepare to hibernate over winter.
Derby: Man ‘brings snake’ into Centrelink office
Police say a man dropped a snake onto a desk at Derby Centrelink office to scare staff.
The 26-year-old was believed to be annoyed with staff during a visit a short time beforehand.
He is due to face the Derby Magistrate today.
Death adders cause permanent damage
New research shows death adder bites can cause permanent damage to the human nervous system.
Photo by Doug Beckers, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license
Medical researchers say neurotoxic effects occur even when antivenom injections are given quickly.
Science Network [read this story]
You can read more about neurotoxicity if you click here.
Bear Grylls ‘all scripted’
A survival expert who worked on Bear Grylls TV adventure series said his Kimberley stunts were carefully crafted.
He gave the example of Grylls apparently catching, killing and eating a snake.
“But it was actually two snakes: a roadkill that I found which he (was shown beating) on the head and eating, and then a live olive python that a wildlife carer had been rehabilitating,” he said.
Herald Sun [read this story]
Halls Creek: Fine for keeping snakes
Black-headed python - photo Wikimedia
A Halls Creek man copped an $800 fine for keeping three black-headed pythons without a license.
You can read a statement from the Department of Environment and Conservation here:
Smugglers taking Kimberley reptiles
Wildlife smugglers are illegally taking Kimberley reptiles for a black market pet trade in eastern Australia.
The Department of Environment and Conservation says the thieves can wipe out local populations of certain snakes and lizards.
Kimberley Echo [read this story]
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