‘It looked like it had just eaten a pretty big meal.’: Wildlife found in a cafe leaves expert stunned
- Replies 4
In Australia, surprises lurk around every corner, but nothing quite prepared a local chef for what he encountered in a cafe this weekend.
This leaves many questioning just how safe their break truly is.
The startling discovery that followed left even the most seasoned experts stunned.
A Sydney chef found himself questioning the safety of his break when an unexpected visitor made its presence known in the most unnerving way.
This wasn’t just any intruder—it was a highly venomous eastern brown snake, coiled up behind the toilet in a Lindfield cafe.
Chris Williams from Urban Reptile Removal, a professional snake catcher familiar with Lindfield’s wildlife, was called to the scene.
While used to handling diamond pythons and tree snakes, even Williams was caught off guard by this rare sighting in the leafy suburb.
‘It was mind-blowing. For it to have ended up in Lindfield was surprising. For it to end up in a cafe was even more surprising. But then finding it in the toilet took the cake,’ he shared.
Williams had been expecting a different kind of creature when he opened the bathroom door.
But there was no mistaking the distinctive movements of an eastern brown, a species known for being both venomous and defensive.
‘When I opened the door it sat up and assumed that characteristic eastern brown snake stance. It was twisting its body into an S-shape and opening its mouth, looking very distressed,’ he explained.
The snake, despite trying to appear more menacing by puffing out its neck like a cobra, was slowed down by the cold tiles beneath it.
‘Despite its best efforts, it was reasonably subdued. And it looked like it had just eaten a pretty big meal,’ Williams observed.
After being captured, the snake was released safely away from populated areas.
‘It was well away from houses and people. It was an adult snake, and missing part of its tail, and if it’s taken 10 years to cross paths with people, I think it has a good chance of survival,’ Williams said.
Eastern brown snakes are one of the deadliest creatures in Australia, but they can be difficult to spot due to their varying shades of brown.
Young snakes are even harder to identify, with their striped patterns and seemingly innocent appearance.
Just weeks ago, a Queensland father almost picked up a baby eastern brown, mistaking it for a python.
These snakes have earned a reputation for being aggressive, though they’re simply highly defensive when threatened.
After the inland taipan, the eastern brown is the second-most venomous land snake in Australia.
Finding a snake in the toilet is a rare occurrence, but extreme weather conditions last year saw a slight rise in such incidents.
Over the weekend, Queensland experienced a surge in snakebite cases, with seven people hospitalised.
Thankfully, fatalities from snake bites are uncommon in Australia due to the accessibility of antivenom.
Only one or two deaths occur annually, a stark contrast to the staggering 50,000 to 60,000 deaths in India.
When bites do happen here, it’s usually men who fall victim, and research from Melbourne University found that a fifth of them had attempted to pick up the snake.
In a previous story, we highlighted the rising number of snake encounters across the country.
With more incidents occurring, experts are warning the public to be cautious and avoid unnecessary interactions.
For a closer look at how these encounters have led to a surge in hospitalisations, read on.
Curious about more wildlife stories? Check out these news updates.
With so many unexpected encounters with wildlife, do you think it’s time to rethink the safety of our everyday spaces? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This leaves many questioning just how safe their break truly is.
The startling discovery that followed left even the most seasoned experts stunned.
A Sydney chef found himself questioning the safety of his break when an unexpected visitor made its presence known in the most unnerving way.
This wasn’t just any intruder—it was a highly venomous eastern brown snake, coiled up behind the toilet in a Lindfield cafe.
Chris Williams from Urban Reptile Removal, a professional snake catcher familiar with Lindfield’s wildlife, was called to the scene.
While used to handling diamond pythons and tree snakes, even Williams was caught off guard by this rare sighting in the leafy suburb.
‘It was mind-blowing. For it to have ended up in Lindfield was surprising. For it to end up in a cafe was even more surprising. But then finding it in the toilet took the cake,’ he shared.
Williams had been expecting a different kind of creature when he opened the bathroom door.
But there was no mistaking the distinctive movements of an eastern brown, a species known for being both venomous and defensive.
‘When I opened the door it sat up and assumed that characteristic eastern brown snake stance. It was twisting its body into an S-shape and opening its mouth, looking very distressed,’ he explained.
The snake, despite trying to appear more menacing by puffing out its neck like a cobra, was slowed down by the cold tiles beneath it.
‘Despite its best efforts, it was reasonably subdued. And it looked like it had just eaten a pretty big meal,’ Williams observed.
After being captured, the snake was released safely away from populated areas.
‘It was well away from houses and people. It was an adult snake, and missing part of its tail, and if it’s taken 10 years to cross paths with people, I think it has a good chance of survival,’ Williams said.
Eastern brown snakes are one of the deadliest creatures in Australia, but they can be difficult to spot due to their varying shades of brown.
Young snakes are even harder to identify, with their striped patterns and seemingly innocent appearance.
Just weeks ago, a Queensland father almost picked up a baby eastern brown, mistaking it for a python.
These snakes have earned a reputation for being aggressive, though they’re simply highly defensive when threatened.
After the inland taipan, the eastern brown is the second-most venomous land snake in Australia.
Finding a snake in the toilet is a rare occurrence, but extreme weather conditions last year saw a slight rise in such incidents.
Over the weekend, Queensland experienced a surge in snakebite cases, with seven people hospitalised.
Thankfully, fatalities from snake bites are uncommon in Australia due to the accessibility of antivenom.
Only one or two deaths occur annually, a stark contrast to the staggering 50,000 to 60,000 deaths in India.
When bites do happen here, it’s usually men who fall victim, and research from Melbourne University found that a fifth of them had attempted to pick up the snake.
In a previous story, we highlighted the rising number of snake encounters across the country.
With more incidents occurring, experts are warning the public to be cautious and avoid unnecessary interactions.
For a closer look at how these encounters have led to a surge in hospitalisations, read on.
Curious about more wildlife stories? Check out these news updates.
- Government funding disparities raise concerns over wildlife protection
- ‘I thought I was dead’: Shocking wildlife encounter caught on camera
- New study exposes wildlife smuggling: 170 Australian reptile species sold overseas
- Confused driver shares bizarre wildlife encounter: 'Since when did we have this?'
With so many unexpected encounters with wildlife, do you think it’s time to rethink the safety of our everyday spaces? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
