Rare yellow-bellied sea snake visits Cozy Corner

RESCUERS ferried a rare yellow-bellied sea snake from Torquay’s Cosy Corner beach to Melbourne Zoo after the tropical snake cut in on a friendly cricket match.

Beach goers came across the venomous snake mid-morning on Sunday, February 6, and quickly called the Marine Response Unit, who rescued the snake, taking it to Melbourne Zoo for a veterinary assessment.

Torquay local Angie Shaw said her father-in-law, visiting from the UK, saw the snake a few metres from where her family were playing cricket on the beach.

“It was quite a surprise to see a snake on the beach,” Ms Shaw said.

“The lifeguards were really helpful and a few locals managed to put the snake in a bucket whilst we waited for the MRU to collect the snake.”

MRU first responder and volunteer wildlife rescuer Jodie Oliver attended the scene to direct people around the snake until an experienced reptile keeper could safely remove the reptile.

“I’ve been here 35 years and I’ve never seen a sea snake on the beach – it’s quite rare,” she said.

“Luckily the MRU have the correct contacts and the sea snake was removed calmly and professionally as normal.”

Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit coordinator Mark Keenan said the assessment didn’t show serious medical problems.

“We are not sure why the snake ended up on a beach so far south, and it is unusual for a primarily tropical species to be seen in Victoria,” Mr Keenan said.

“After a couple of days’ rest, rehydration and recovery at Melbourne Zoo, the sea snake was approved for release back to the wild by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

“Members of the Melbourne Zoo Reptile team released the snake with the assistance of the Victorian Fisheries Authority on February 6, into deep waters several kilometres off the eastern Victorian coast. The snake was released in currents that should give it a good chance of making its way north along the east Australian coast back to this species’ usual waters.”