In a remarkable feat that underlines just how perilous it is to extract venom, a coastal taipan named Cyclone has broken the record for venom yield, with a world-record 5.2 grams extracted in one hit. This quantity of venom from one creature—enough to kill 400 humans—left the keepers at Australian Reptile Park in moments of both amazement and high alert.
This is because the cyclone has an extraordinarily large yield of venom, with three times the average of a coastal taipan species, known to be very potent and very aggressive. “Cyclone is one of our most dangerous snakes here at the park and is known for being quite unpredictable and keeping us all on our toes,” said Australian Reptile Park operation manager Billy Collett.
The previous record was held by another coastal taipan aptly named Whiplash, who produced 4.9 grams of venom in 2022. The Australian Reptile Park, situated 30 miles north of Sydney, is the only facility in the country that milks taipans for antivenom production. The work is also important for drawing venom from some of the world’s most dangerous snakes, including Eastern brown snakes, tiger snakes, death adders, and black snakes.
Milking a venomous snake is dangerous. Keepers have to handle the snake and get it to bite into a shot glass covered with plastic. The venom is freeze-dried and sent to a vaccine manufacturer. On how the process of milking a venomous snake works, Collett explained, “Keepers are required to secure the snake, sink its fangs into a big shot glass covered with plastic, and get it to deliver the lethal bite.”.
However, the venom extraction program is indispensable for public health, no matter how much risk it poses. There are 2,000 recorded bites by snakes every year in Australia. More than 300 people have received antivenom through the program, which keeps them alive. “We are the only facility in Australia that milks taipans for the production of antivenom, so Cyclone’s record-breaking contribution will go towards saving someone’s life,” said Mr Collett.
Since the 1950s, the Australian Reptile Park has been the sole provider of terrestrial snake venom used in the development of antivenoms. In early 2023, the park began construction on a new state-of-the-art venom milking facility, supported by the NSW Government’s pledge of $300,000 to this end. The project will be completed before the end of 2024 and visitors will have the chance to see first-hand the life-saving work that occurs at the facility.
That record-breaking venom yield of Cyclone, however, proves the dangers reared toward not just people dealing with such deadly creatures, but more so toward the critical importance of their work in saving lives. As Collett put it, “Coastal taipans are not the most venomous snake in the world, but they are known throughout the world for their aggression, and bites have caused fatalities every year.”
In that, ‘when the balance of nature often depends on the most dangerous of creatures, work done at the Australian Reptile Park serves as evidence of humans innately and bravely encountering lethal challenges thrown by Nature.