This tiny reptile can kill 100 people with one bite. Dozens have just hatched

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 15:15

So it wouldn't come as a shock that keepers at the Ballarat Wildlife Park would be kept on their toes after their two snakes Elvis and Priscilla delivered two clutches of eggs.

The bite of a baby inland taipan snake has the ability to kill more than 100 hundred people, making it the world's deadliest reptile.

So it wouldn't come as a shock that keepers at the Ballarat Wildlife Park would be kept on their toes after their two snakes Elvis and Priscilla delivered two clutches of eggs.

The team had originally expected 14 eggs from the pair, but were pleasantly surprised when they produced more than a dozen additional eggs after being reintroduced.

Head of Reptiles Jack Gatto said 29 eggs were laid in total.

"We then reintroduced the pair again and to our surprise, we got a double clutch which means she laid a second batch of eggs, so the lucky year of the snake is definitely on our side," Gatto said.

Nine have already hatched and are being cared for at the wildlife park, but they have been separated.

"Snakes have no maternal instinct whatsoever so we've separated the babies and we're starting to offer them food so they can take care of themselves," Gatto said.

"We have to be extremely careful handling them because they're packed with the most toxic venom in the world.

"They're actually equally as dangerous as their parents as they're a lot quicker and more likely to strike out of fear.

"One bite from one of these little guys could kill over 100 men."

The baby snakes are not on display to the public yet, but some could be taken to other zoos for education.

Inland taipans live in remote parts of Central Western Queensland and are described as shy and reclusive snakes, hiding in cracks in the ground and living off rodents.

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