Influx of highly venomous sea snakes on Sunshine Coast shorelines

Australia Broadcast Center

3 days ago

Although they are usually found sleeping underwater or diving in the ocean, potentially deadly sea snakes have been washing up in higher than usual numbers on Sunshine Coast shorelines this past week.
Bryan Fry has been studying venomous animals and sea snakes at the University of Queensland for nearly 30 years.
He said although they were fascinating creatures, their venom could kill.
"Don't pick it up because even though it's injured or dying it's still capable of a lethal bite," Dr Fry said.
"Sea snake venom is very, very potent and could kill."
Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers owner Stuart McKenzie has been catching and handling snakes for more than a 12 years.
He said it was uncommon to spot a sea snake on a Sunshine Coast beach — except for when there had been rough weather.
"When they're either sick or get injured, or there's large swells and they can't get back out into that deep water, they will get washed ashore," Mr McKenzie said.
Mr McKenzie has been called out to more than 10 sea snake jobs this week alone.
The snake catcher said sea snakes, as the name suggested, belonged in the sea.
"We do get a lot of weather events and big swells from time to time, and it certainly doesn't help our sea snakes," Mr McKenzie said.
"Sometimes it's because they're just tired and they've been struggling against the tides trying to get out, but other times they might get hit by a boat, they might have an illness, and they do need help."
He said once removed from the beach the "fragile" sea snakes were often relocated to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
"A majority of the time they're rehabilitated and released again, but sometimes obviously they succumb to their injuries or illness," he said.
Despite their deadly venom Dr Fry said sea snakes were not aggressive in nature.
"They're incredibly cool animals that, if you go diving with them, if you remain calm, you can end up having a remarkable encounter underwater," he said.
"If you don't try to grab them and just kind of chill and hang out they're going to get inquisitive with you.
"But they might try to mate with your regulator hose.
"They're very curious and very gentle, but when messed with they will give you a savage bite."
He said sea snakes absorbed 20 per cent of their oxygen through their gas-permeable skin, which helped increase their dive time.
A sea snake can dive more than 100 metres deep and dump its carbon dioxide through its skin underwater.
The "magnificent" snakes still need to come to the surface to breathe.
They also need fresh water to stay hydrated.
"When there's a storm and when there's rain there's a thin lens of fresh water on the top of the ocean water because fresh water is less dense than salt water," Dr Fry said.
"The sea snakes will drink off of that."
According to Dr Fry the biggest threat to a sea snake, other than rough seas, was sharks.
If you stumble upon a sea snake washed up at the beach, the best course of action is to report it.
"We've had people pick them up and try and put them back in the ocean thinking they're helping," Mr McKenzie said.
"Anytime someone sees a sea snake, or any snake really, whether it's on the beach or in the bush, you should leave them alone. Keep a safe distance. Keep pets away."
The snake catcher said even if a snake looked dead, do not touch it.
"I've picked them up before and as soon as you touch them they start flailing around," Mr McKenzie said.
"Leave it to the professionals."