Urgent need for funnel-web spiders

The Australian Reptile Park is in desperate need of more live funnel-web spider donations.

More live funnel-web spider donations are urgently needed before the breeding season ends to sustain the Park’s life-saving venom program.

With Autumn approaching, the Greater Sydney region, including the Central Coast, is expected to experience higher than average rainfall and humidity, conditions that cause funnel-web spiders to become more active.

This combination creates the perfect storm for male funnel-webs to be on the move, increasing the chances of encounters with humans.

Despite this, the Australian Reptile Park has received far fewer spiders than normal for this time of year, which could have deadly consequences.

“People need to remain vigilant and safely catch any funnel-web spiders they come across,” spider keeper Emma Teni said.

“Every spider received could be the one that saves a life.

“The venom program relies entirely on public donations of these spiders, and without them, the production of antivenom – which has saved countless Australians – would not be possible.”

The Sydney funnel-web spider is the world’s most venomous spider, and its venom can cause severe reactions, particularly in children and the elderly.

Thanks to the Australian Reptile Park’s venom program, no deaths have occurred since the introduction of the antivenom in 1981.

However, without a steady supply of spiders, the program is at risk.

Funnel-web spiders thrive in cool, damp places such as backyards with dense leaf litter, bushland, garden beds, and even inside homes in areas like laundries, garages, and shoes left outside.

It is crucial to check these areas regularly and take precautions.

If a funnel-web spider is found, it should not be killed.

Instead, the Park urges the public to follow its simple and safe collection method and bring the spider to the park or one of its many drop-off locations across the Greater Sydney region.

To learn how to safely capture a funnel-web spider and find the nearest drop-off point, visit www.reptilepark.com.au

In the event of a bite, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage immediately and seek medical assistance as quickly as possible.

The Australian Reptile Park remains the sole supplier of funnel-web spider venom for the production of lifesaving antivenom.