THE Shoalhaven is a mecca for tourists, hundreds of thousands flock to the region every year but on Friday it played host to an unwanted visitor.
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What looks like one of the world’s deadliest snakes - a taipan.
The metre-long juvenile was discovered at Bomaderry in a furniture container that had arrived from Darwin.
Workers from Sydney company Nuss Removals were unpacking the shipping container when the spotted the snake.
After taking a photo they contacted Wildlife Rescue South Coast, saying they thought they had a black snake among the furniture.
Local snake wrangler Ian Usher, from Ian’s Reptile Awareness and Safety, was contacted and after taking one look at the photo knew it wasn’t a black snake.
“I knew straight away it was a taipan,” he said.
“There was no way it was a black snake.”
For Ian it was a chance to work with the snake at the top of the list as far as venom strength goes.
“I have only ever worked with a taipan once before. That was when I was getting my venom certificate,” he said.
“Taipan’s are definitely not from this region. They are normally from North Queensland or Darwin.
“They are one of the deadliest snakes in the world.
“A bite from one, if untreated, will kill you in half an hour.
“Even this guy, if it is a taipan, for a little snake it certainly packs a big punch.”
He said the snake would eventually grow close to two and a half metres.
“He was among some furniture packing on top of a cupboard,” he said.
“He wasn’t happy when we tried to remove him. He actually struck out at the packing and it was a food strike as he wouldn’t let go.
“We ended up having to cut the packing away to get him out.”
There was plenty of interest in the rare find when it was taken to the Bomaderry Veterinary Clinic.
The snake will be taken to the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford which collects venom for the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory to produce antivenom.
The Shoalhaven boasts a number of deadly snakes, including the eastern brown and tiger snakes, and with the warmer weather of late, residents are reminded to keep an eye out for the reptiles.