Massive king brown snake weighing nearly 8kg could be Australia’s most deadly after excreting enough venom to kill 20 adult men
- A 7.8kg snake that measures 2.7m long could be biggest venomous snake in Aus
- His venom is so potent it could kill 20 adult men and is used to make anti-venom
- The snake named Titan received health check at Australian Reptile Park in NSW
A lethal reptile that produced enough venom to kill 20 men could be one of the largest venomous snakes in Australia.
‘Titan’ the king brown snake was getting a health check at the Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast when a whopping 5.58g of venom was extracted from its mouth.
The reptile, also known as a mulga snake, weighed in at a solid 7.8kg and measured almost 2.7m long.
A king brown snake typically weighs up to 6kg and measures 2.5m.
Billy Collett from the Australian Reptile Park (pictured with Titan) said he could tell the king brown snake was a solid weight – ‘I could feel it when I was holding him’.
Titan weighs close to 8kg and is 2.68metres long – one of the largest venomous snakes in Australia
It is estimated the venom collected by the reptile park saves at least 300 lives per year (Titan giving a sample)
Australian Reptile Park Operations Manager Billy Collett was dumbfounded at the Titan’s mammoth size.
‘Far out, he is 7.8kg and I can tell you I could feel it when I was holding him,’ he said.
Mr Collett said he expected a huge amount of venom to come from the snake, which has an extraction once a fortnight.
The park is the only one in the world that milks Australian terrestrial snakes for their venom which is crucial for making anti-venom for those bitten by the reptiles.
‘It is mind blowing to think that this bit of venom is actually going to contribute to saving human lives – what a massive yield of venom,’ Mr Collett said.
The snake expert said about 300 lives are saved each year because of the venom program at the reptile park.
Staff at the reptile hub weigh and measure the snakes as a way of monitoring their health, as it is hard to gauge when they get sick.
‘Titan’ the king brown snake was getting a health check at the Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast when a whopping 5.58g of venom was extracted from its mouth
The total venom extracted (pictured after Titan the king brown snake obliged with a sample)weighed a massive 5.58g – enough to do away with 20 men
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