All language subtitles for B.W.S10E05.Deadly.Snake.Milking.Gone.Wrong.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

Today we're going

to be milking five of
Australia's most dangerous snake

species, and in
doing so, we're going

to calculate how many humans
that venom yield could kill.

And in the end, explain
to you exactly how

antivenom is created.

I will be working

alongside Billy Collette.

He's a Jedi master in
the universe of reptiles

and to date, has
milked the venom

from all of Australia's
most dangerous snakes,

hundreds of times.

Billy, before we get into
the intensity of milking snakes

today, and I have to
note to the audience,

it is palpable how
dangerous this room feels.

Every one of these containers
filled with a snake that

can kill you, but I want
to talk real quickly

about the difference
between dangerous and deadly

and how with Australian snakes,
it all combines together.

Yeah, there's a-- there's a
big argument there, I think.

But when it comes to
deadly and dangerous,

we look at, dangerous are the
ones that kill the most people,

and then deadly
being the most toxic.

So, up here, we've got
Australia's most toxic snakes.

Right.

A lot of times the
dangers versus deadly

breaks down to where a snake
is located in its proximity

to humans.

How often you will
come across a snake

versus how infrequently you
could come across it, correct?

Yeah, Yeah.

So, at the moment Australia's
most dangerous snake

is the Eastern brown.

It's not the most toxic,
it's number two in the world,

but it bites the most people.

Wow.

OK, so that's because of
its proximity to humans.

Yeah.

When it comes to the actual
most deadly snake in Australia,

which species would that be?

That's the inland taipan.

And that's the most toxic
snake on planet Earth.

OK.

The first one we're going
to be taking a look at

is the king brown,
this thing is a giant.

The mulga, as it's
commonly known.

What do we need to
know about the snake?

They've got the biggest

venom yield of any venomous
snake on the planet.

What they lack in toxicity,
they make up for in volume.

And it's just an overwhelming
effect on your system.

And you'll imagine, one of
our really big king grounds

can pump out in excess of
800 miligrams in a bite.

You can see, straight
away, massive venom

glands on this fella.

Alrighty.

That
is such a big snake, OK.

Yep!

Whew, here we go.

King brown, the mulga.

Let's milk it.

He's
still popping those fangs.

Wow.

Dang, that's a lot of venom.

So
it's still going.

His glands are still--

There probably still 80% full.

So,
he's able to control,

in a sense, the amount of venom
that he's choosing to give.

And look at that.

It's
just locked in place.

He will
not let go of that.

There we have it, the king
brown, officially milked.

That's one out of five.

And that is an intimidating
snake right there.

OK,
Billy, king brown is down.

And next up on our
list of venomous

danger noodles is
the death adder.

The thing I find
interesting about death adders

is they've got the fastest
strike of any snake

on the planet.
Really?

I did not know that.

Yeah, it's-- you
can't even see it.

Wow.

Out
of all the snakes

I restrained, these guys
make me the most nervous.

Because, A, their strike
and their bottom jaw

is extremely flexible,
like the vipers.

And they get their fangs
out the side of them

and work them
towards your fingers.

So, I use a three point grip,
like I do with all my snakes,

and I just keep that
the front of that

head as far away from my
fingers as I possibly can.

You guys ready?

Milking the death adder.

Oh, jeez.

I'll
jump every time.

It made me jump.

You didn't warn me about that.

You can see just with that
leap to grab onto the vile.

The speed, even with your
hand controlling it, was fast.

So what sort of prey species are
these snakes specializing in?

Using cadual luring
like that with the tail?

I imagine, they're
drawing in little mammals.

and maybe birds.

Lizards,
in particular, small birds.

OK.

Yeah, they
love to eat skinks and geckos.

OK.

See, only elapid,

short, thick-bodied elapid.

Mm-hm.

That
sits still on the ground

and relies on camouflage, and
that ambush attack, you know?

Pretty cool.

So, I
wouldn't mind letting

go of the head of this fellow.

Yeah, let's put it him back.

Let's put him back.

So,
yeah, with these guys,

the strike is-- is
faster than the eye.

So, I've actually got to wait
for him to pull away from me

before I can let go,
because I literally

wouldn't be able to get my
hand out of there fast enough.

Right,
so you want his body

tucked back far enough.

I need him to reverse,
like he's doing,

before I can actually let go.

All right.

Billy's faster than
the death adder.

I like that.

Two snakes down,
successfully milked.

Next up is the tiger snake.

This is my favorite
snake in Australia.

Wait until you guys get
a look at this reptile.

Ooh.

Wild
thing, with tiger snakes,

they turn your blood into jelly.

I did not know this.

Your blood turns to jelly?

So coagulates it together.

It coagulates and
then it can't actually

move around your body anymore.

So that's what can
kill you, if you

don't use first aid with
this-- with any of our species,

but yeah.

OK, so don't
want to get bit by this one.

Same deal when
we get him under the pin pad.

I'll grab the head,
you come in, body,

and then block that cloaca.

OK.

Oh, wow, that
snake is beautiful.

Yep.

You're good.

Wow.

Pretty strong bodied snake.

Yeah, they are, very thick.

Whoa.

All right, the tiger
snake, let's do it.

Yeah, look at that.

There we go.

So you can see it funneling out
of that left-hand fang then.

Also a clear venom.

Yep.

Now, like the king brown,
is this a snake that's

going to bite and hold on?

Unlikely, unlikely.

More of a bite and let go,
and then try and get away,

unless it's grabbed
a prey, you know,

lizard or a frog or a
little bird or something.

And where are
these snakes typically found?

I mean, is this a species that
humans are likely to run into?

Not as much as they used to.

There used to be very
common along the east coast,

but with urban
development and so on,

and their habitat cleared,
they're not as common,

but some areas, they are,
especially the colder,

more alpine sort of areas,
and even islands off

of South Australia in Victoria
and Tasmania, and so on.

And he should let
go pretty easy.

And that's actually
a pretty good yield.

What I'll do is I'll swap you--
OK.

- that.
- Got it.

Don't drink it.

Yeah, I will do my best
not to, very tempting.

And I'll take this.

And
tiger snake, whew.

I'll take
him back to the enclosure.

So far,
successfully accomplished.

OK,
that is three venom vials

successfully accomplished.

Let's see what we're
going to milk next.

- Sorry.
- Yeah.

Billy, what are you thinking?

I'm just warming
up here and picking--

I think I'm going
to go with Keith.

Like, all the taipans
are pretty jumpy.

And its name is Keith.

Keith, yeah.

OK.

So he's
not as reactive usually.

OK.

He's a
little bit more behaved,

so I wouldn't mind using him.

Anything we need to know?

Because these are very
fast snakes, correct?

So, before antivenom
was available,

this species had a
100% kill rate when

they bit someone in Australia.

Whew, OK, so now that
antivenom is created

that's not necessarily the case.

So, what you're saying
is that if you were ever

to be bitten by
a coastal taipan,

it is a 100% death
sentence, unless you

receive antivenom treatment.

Yep, yep.

So, you know, normally, as
our snakes get more toxic,

the venom yields get smaller.

Not with these guys.

OK.

And their fangs, they've
got the biggest fang of any

of our Australian
venomous snakes, and one

of the largest venom yields.

OK.

So we are lining up
now with a fast snake,

a smart snake, large
fangs, large venom

yield and very flighty.

Very flighty.

I'm going to step
over here out of the way

and let you do
what it is you do.

All right, here we
go, the coastal taipan

is coming out of its enclosure.

This is one of the most
dangerous situations we're going

to possibly face here today.

Oh, look at that snake.

I'll just get him into
that right position.

All right, you're ready
to jump on that tail?

Yeah, yeah, you good?
Yeah.

OK, that is
a very intimidating snake.

That's for certain, look
at the size of its head.

Long head.
My goodness.

Big eyes, they're

very focused, they're very
in tune, they're very smart.

These snakes scare me.

OK.

Out of any of our
Australian snakes,

these guys scare me the
most and I imagine he'll

be pretty willing to bite this.

And you can see that
initial, huge yield.

That is massive.

And
look at the fangs.

Jeez.

You're right.

And with the venom

itself, so you know
how the tiger snake

causes your blood to clot?
- Mm-hm.

This guy
does the complete opposite

and your blood thins out to
the point where you bleed out

of every orifice, out
of your gums, your eyes,

and you know, downstairs.
Wow, really?

Just bleeding, yeah.

So you're like
internally hemorrhaging if you

get bitten by this snake.

Internally
hemorrhaging and then

it paralyzes your diaphragm, so
your heart and lungs can't work.

And essentially you'll choke
to death on your own blood

eventually.

You just literally
just die, yeah.

Wow, OK, that sounds
like a horrible way to go.

But, thankfully, the
antivenom is fantastic,

and the first aid
is just as good, so.

OK, how fast does

something like that set in
when it comes to your blood

thinning out?

I mean, how much time would
you estimate you have if you're

bitten by one of these snakes?

If you
were to get bitten by one,

and do first aid straight
away, it would be hours,

usually before you had any
symptoms, because that's how

effective those bandages are.

But without a bandage, I reckon
based off studies that I know,

you're looking at about half an
hour you'd be vomiting blood,

you'd be-- you'd be passing out.

You'd be in a very bad way.

So, a bite from the snake
and within 30 minutes you

were going downhill quickly.
- Yep.

Wow.

Breaking out in sweats,
and just in a very bad place.

Yeah, not a snake you
ever want to tangle with.

OK, I imagine you probably
want to get this guy back.

Whoa, look at the
inside of the mouth.

Yep.

He's
looking at us and he's like

''I mean business.''

And there's
hundreds of teeth in there,

across that bottom jaw, and the
top jaw, for securing rodents,

you know?

And that's what they feed on.

And those massive fangs.

Whew.

So,
I'll grab that tail.

Grab that.

Well done.

Whew,
that was intense.

And it's not even the
most intense snake

that we're going to milk today.

But, wow, I mean,
I'm sweating bullets.

I can't even imagine how you're
feeling right now, Billy.

I know this is a part
of everyday life,

but for us, getting
to milk these snakes

and see them up close
like that, it's intense.

So, Billy, we
have now successfully milked

four snakes.

And it's hard to describe
how intense this scenario is.

Getting through four
of them, my heart rate

is like, through the roof.

And there'll be days where
you're milking several hundred

snakes at a time, correct?

Yeah.

It's heart-pumping
stuff, but like the thing

I find is I just
can't lose focus.

And if I'm having an off
day, I have to call it.

Because there's no point taking
the risk with these things.

Especially those taipans.

And as you'll see very
soon, the eastern browns

are just so jumpy.

We're about to
milk the eastern brown, which

is the most dangerous snake
species that we're going

to interact with today, arguably
the most dangerous snake species

in Australia.

If the worst-case
scenario were to happen,

if you were to be bitten, what
is the protocol that you would

go through to save your life?

We have a drill.

And we can go through
that drill if you want.

You can be our victim.

Yeah, I'll play
the not bitten-by,

but the
what-if-bitten-by victim.

Yeah, let's do it.

Let's test out a snake drill.

Where do we start?

Right here with a
snake bite bandage.

OK, Billy,
let's set up the scenario.

A bite is most likely going to
happen right in this vicinity,

if the snake's head
wasn't pinned correctly.

So, assuming I was trying to
make my move, Ooh, bitten.

Got bitten, Billy.

OK, mate, just move
away from the snake.

Come up this way.

Very quietly and
calm, straight on--

That was bad.

Take that jewelry off
for me, and that sweatband.

Going to get a bandage for you.

Ah!

We're going to go 3
times over your bite site.

It's important to try and get
those rectangles into squares

on these type of bandages,
because this is actually slowing

down your lymphatic
system movement

in this limb, which
is what the venom is

actually traveling through.

So it's not in your
blood system yet.

OK.

Really important,

you keep that limb straight.

OK.

I'm going
to deal with this snake.

So, we've got the snake,
he's back in the cage.

I'm going to grab
the wheelchair,

and at the same time, I'm
going to contact reception.

Billy to reception.

Coyote has been bitten
by a tiger snake.

He's got his bandage
on and I'm just

transferring to wheelchair now.

The time is 11:09.

Can you please advise Gosford
ED that we are on our way?

I'm grabbing the antivenom.

How are you feeling, mate?

Billy,
I'm scared and it hurts.

Let
me know if you start

to feel nauseous or blurry
vision, if you get a funny taste

in your mouth, any of that.

We've got to document
any of those symptoms.

Oh, man, I cannot

believe that just happened.

And that got
us out here in two minutes

and we'll be at
Gosford ER in under 10.

OK, well, that was pretty
efficient, between bite, wrap,

wheelchair, out to
the vehicle that

would take me to the medical
facility, less than two minutes.

And I'll be having help
in under 15 minutes.

Yep.

Now, we need to
head back inside

and get ready to milk
the most dangerous

snake in all of Australia, the
one and only, eastern brown.

All right, now, this is a pretty
good sized snake, correct?

It's big.

Yeah.

One of the biggest, one of the
fastest, one of the most ornery

here in Australia,
and the one that's

responsible for biting
pretty much more

people than any other species.

Yeah,
yeah, absolutely.

So the eastern brown is now
responsible for 65% of snake

bite deaths in Australia.
Wow.

This snake is jumpy,

so I'm going to
need a bit of space.

And please, don't come in until
I've got him proper secure.

And then, I'll call
you in obviously, but--

Yeah.

I just need space.

He's big, he's over
6 foot, very jumpy.

OK.

And he'-- he's a wild boy.

OK,
eastern brown snake

coming out of its enclosure.

Ooh,
that is a big snake.

Whoa, boy, yeah, no, he does
not look real happy, does he?

OK, we'll get him over here.

See him flatten out there?
Uh-huh.

Strike.

Whoa, oh!

Yeah, he's really quick.

These guys are
renown for just going crazy.

Not calculated,
though, like a taipan.

They're just consistent with it.

And it's what they use
to bluff predators away.

And obviously, he would look
at me as a predator, which

is why he's acting like that.

Also--

It's
interesting the way

he curls his body into--

Ooh, that was close.

See what I mean?

That sort of stuff.

Straight up at your face.

You OK?

You good?
Yeah.

That was intense.

OK, I think we got to get him
under control at this point.

And he isn't
even one of our jumpiest snakes.

All right.

OK, you good?

All good.

OK.

This is, without question,
the strongest snake

that we have held on to
today, unbelievably strong.

OK, are you good?
- Yeah, man.

All right.

Get him on here.

Right, so you can
see tiny yields.

Yeah

But
unbelievably toxic.

And how's how they act, like?

Spastic!

They just go nuts.

And for the handler, you got
to be confident in yourself,

like reaction speed, not to
let go, what you're doing,

your next movement
and like I said,

he's not even the craziest.

He's one of the quietest
easter browns we've got.

I mean, that was
probably the most intense,

fastest move I've ever
seen a human make, which

I'm sure we caught on camera.

I mean, he was all the
way up by your face,

when he swung his body up.

That was insanity.

He came,
mouth open, at my face.

Like, these things
do not muck around.

OK, all right, guys, we're
going to get the snake back in.

That was a very, very,
very intense moment.

You got him?
- Yeah.

OK.

Woo!

Nice!

Ooh, man, that--
That was so close.

He went whew.

I bet your heart's

racing right now, isn't it?

I don't really get
the adrenaline dump

from that anymore.

My heart's racing for you.

How about that?

I know that sounds
stupid, but because I'm so

used to it I'm so programmed.

It's not that I'm not
scared or anything.

It's not that, it's just,
yeah, it's just part of the job

with with these guys.

Now that we've got
our venom lined up,

the next thing I want to do
is sit back and take a look

and try to calculate how many
people this venom yield added up

would kill.

Billy, I would say that
this line up of shots here

before us is arguably
the most deadly

five-shot lineup in history.

100%, mate.

So, what we want to do
now is go through each one

of these venom
yields, and I'm going

to write down your estimate of
how many people this would kill.

So, this part of the episode is
us figuring out just how deadly

this concoction really is.

OK.

So we're going to start
with the king brown.

How many people would
you guess that that venom

is capable of killing?

This yield right here.

I would confidently say, that
would kill about 40 grown men.

Moving to our second vial
here, that is the death adder.

What is your guess, Billy?

How many dead people?

50.

Our third vial belongs to
my favorite Australian snake,

the tiger snake.

I'd comfortably
say 65, with that.

65 tombstones.

Our fourth vial is the
ever-so frisky coastal taipan.

Good size yield.

This is a very dangerous
glass in front of us.

And I'd say, in excess
of 150, probably more

closer to 200 people.

Wow, all right,
I'm rounding up.

We're going, 200 corpses,
coming off of that shot glass.

And last but not least,
one of the craziest snake

experiences I've ever
seen, your interaction

with the eastern brown.

A pretty small yield,
but pretty toxic.

That's a
big yield for a brown snake.

Oh, that's big?
Yeah.

OK.

That's a really big
yield for a brown snake.

And that'd be 100 people.

- 100 people.
- Yeah.

OK.

40, plus 50, plus 65,
plus 200, plus 100.

That is bonkers.

So how much anti-venom could be
created from this venom yield

that we have here?

Not much.

So you need about 30 of
each to create one vial.

OK.

Yeah.

Now, the work that's being
done here at Australian Reptile

Park, this is the only
place on the continent where

people are milking
snakes and creating

this life saving anti-venom.

Without that anti-venom, people
that are bitten by these snakes

every year would not
be able to survive.

They say not all
heroes wear capes.

This guy doesn't wear a
cape, but honestly, he

should have one.

It's impressive, the work
you guys are doing here.

And one last thing
that I want to answer

for everybody out there
watching, how is antivenom made?

It's
a crazy process.

But in a quick sum, we
milked these five species,

we then freeze-dry the venom,
we send it to a lab in Victoria.

They rehydrate it, small
amounts, inject it into horses.

So there's taipan horses,
black snake horses,

death adder horses, so on.

Different horses designated
for different types of venom.

- Yep.
- OK.

And they get
a tiny injection once a week

for about six months.

Their immune systems
are so strong,

they don't even pick up on
the effects of that venom.

I've been down there.

They're walking around, eating
grass, doing horse stuff.

Yeah.

At the end
of the envenomation period,

that six-month mark, they bring
the horses in, individually,

to a lab.

They hook them up to
this blood machine

and they draw a liter of
blood out of them at a time.

They run it in a centrifuge.

During the envenomation
process, their immune systems

start to produce
venom-resistant plasma.

So, they remove that
out of the blood system.

Everything else goes
back to the horse.

Horse is fine.

That venom-resistant
plasma is antivenom.

They add some proteins
to it so the human body

is more likely to accept it.

And, yeah, essentially we take
on a horse's immune system,

and our antivenom in Australia,
it's the best quality

in the world, and it's free.

So we're one of the very
few countries worldwide

that does that.

And here at the
Australian Reptile Park,

we are the sole supplier
for terrestrial snake

venom for that program.

Very cool.

Well, Billy, this has been
unbelievably educational.

It was amazing to
watch you work.

Thank you for having us
as a part of your day.

I'm Coyote Peterson.

Be brave, stay wild.

We'll see you on
the next adventure.