The Australian Reptile Park is proud to announce the birth of six baby tiger snakes – tiny but mighty additions that will one day play a huge role in saving Australian lives.
Born in the Park’s state-of-the-art Weigel Venom Centre, which opened in December, the newborn tiger snakes are currently just 10cm long.
They are being carefully hand-fed by the Park’s expert venom keepers, who are preparing them for a vital future as part of Australia’s only venom-milking program for terrestrial snakes.
“These baby tiger snakes have no idea how many lives they will save,” operations manager Brandon Gifford said.
“It’s incredible to think that such small creatures will grow to become life-saving heroes.”
Once they reach maturity, these snakes will join the Park’s world-renowned venom program – a life-saving initiative that produces antivenom used in hospitals across the country.
Each year, the program is credited with saving up to 300 lives, and since its inception in the 1960s, it’s estimated to have saved more than 25,000 Australians.
This delicate and dangerous work requires keepers to risk their lives daily, handling some of Australia’s most dangerous snakes with precision and care.
Tiger snakes are one of Australia’s most venomous species.
Native to southern regions of the country, they can grow to over 1.2m in length and are known for their striking banded appearance.
Despite their small size at birth, a bite from a baby tiger snake is just as dangerous as one from an adult.
First aid procedures should be followed immediately in the event of a bite, regardless of the snake’s size.
In late 2024, the Park opened the Weigel Venom Centre, a world-class venom milking and processing facility where visitors can see the process up close.
The new facility houses more than 200 of the Park’s venomous snakes, as well as a vast interactive educational resource for all visitors to explore.
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