Brown Snake, Second Deadliest Snake In The World, Caught In A Suburb In Australia

People with ophiophobia might want to skip this one. Business Insider reports that a two meter-long brown snake has just been caught in the suburban backyard of a very unfortunate homeowner in Australia. Yikes!

Aptly dubbed the “Gigantor,” the deadly brown snake has been captured by members of Australian Reptile Park after being alerted by local residents. What surprised park officials was that the snake was significantly larger and thicker than the average brown snake. It’s half a meter longer than a normal brown snake, which typically measures around one to one-and-a-half meters. “Gigantor” was also twice the girth of the usual eastern brown.

Tim Faulkner, general manager of the park, explained why brown snakes have been appearing in residential and commercial areas for the past few weeks.

“It’s the height of summer – a humid summer – which snakes love. Mix that with the rain we’re experiencing and you’re more likely to see them out and about,” said Faulkner.

Earlier this month, the Inquisitr reported about recent sightings of a huge brown snake in a family beach in Australia. Patrons of the One Mile Beach were surprised to see the deadly reptile slithering on the shores of the popular destination. Witnesses say it went to particular areas of the shore to seek shade, but then went back into the ocean, never to be seen again. A photo below has been taken by one of the beach-goers.

Brown snakes are the second-deadliest snakes in the world, only lagging behind the incredibly deadly taipan snake. It is also responsible for the most snake bite deaths in Australia, according to the Australian Reptile Park website. However, brown snakes are actually aloof and will try to avoid human contact as much as possible.

Reptile Park.com.au writes, “Although brown snakes are temperamental and dangerous creatures, they will always try and avoid a confrontation with humans if possible. There is certainly no advantage for the snake in attacking something as large as a person so they will only do this as a last resort. Given the opportunity, even brown snakes will flee rather than attack.”

Thanks to modern anti-venom, brown snakes don’t claims as many lives as it used to, with just around one or two people dying from bites every year. Instead of terrorizing the local neighborhoods, “Gigantor” will now be a part of an effort to reduce snakebite deaths every year by providing anti-venom for Australian Reptile Park every two weeks.

[Image from Australian Reptile Park/Business Insider]