Deadly Snakes Invade Urban Areas of Australia
Posted on January 20, 2007
It sounds like the plot for a cheesy horror movie. The BBC reports that Australian wildlife officials are warning that tens of thousands of deadly snakes are moving into urban areas of Australia. The reason for the movement is that severe drought has the snakes headed to residential areas in a desperate attempt to find water. There has already been uptick in snake bites in Australia including three fatalities.
Last week a 16-year-old boy in Sydney died from a bite by an Eastern Brown, one of the world's deadliest snakes.The 16-year-old boy was killed by a eastern brown snake that bit him on the hand during a walk through the bush reserve at Whalan -- in Sydney, Australia. A Syndney Morning Herald article says the eastern brown snake is the second most venomous land snake in the world after the inland taipan, which is also found in Australia.Many parts of Australia have been hard-hit by the drought, described as the worst for more than 100 years.
Experts have warned that an army of snakes is on the move, looking for water. Driven by extreme thirst they have been discovered in gardens, bedrooms and even Australian shopping centres.
Hospitals have reported a rising number of snakebites. Toxicologists have said there have been 60 serious cases since September.