The Australian Reptile Park has received the biggest male funnel web spider ever donated to its antivenom program as rainy humid weather sees a spike in sightings of the dangerous arachnids.
Measuring in at a whopping 7.9cm, the new arrival, dubbed Hercules, has fangs that could pierce through a human fingernail.
The behemoth of a spider was handed in to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital, one of the Park’s spider drop-off locations.
After collecting it, the spiders team at the Reptile Park was quick to realise that this was the biggest male funnel-web spider ever received.
The Park regularly encourages members of the public to safely catch funnel webs to participate in its vital lifesaving milking program.
The venom milked by staff is turned into antivenom which saves up to 300 lives per year.
The Australian Reptile Park is the only facility in Australia that milks funnel web spiders for their raw venom to be made into lifesaving antivenom.
“We’re used to having pretty big funnel-web spiders donated to the Park, however receiving a male funnel-web this big is like hitting the jackpot,” Spider Keeper Emma Teni said.
“While female funnel web spiders are venomous, males have proven to be more lethal.
“(This male spider’s) venom output could be enormous, proving incredibly valuable for the Park’s venom program.
“People can bring any collected funnel web spiders to the Reptile Park itself.
“However, if they can’t get to us, we have drop off zones around Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle and all facilities are provided with a spider safety kit to house the spiders until the Australian Reptile Park staff can come and pick them up each week.”
The Australian Reptile Park relies on public donations of funnel web spiders to keep venom supplies ongoing.
The spiders are milked weekly for their raw venom, which is sent off to Seqirus in Melbourne to be made into antivenom.
Since the inception of the program in 1981, the program has saved countless lives and there has not been a single death from a funnel-web spider bite.
There are a multitude of participating spider drop off locations across the Greater Sydney Region. To find your nearest location, head to: https://www.reptilepark.com.au/animals-at-the-australian-reptile-park/venom-program/spider-drop-off-points/