Giant Snake Makes a Splash on Australian Beach

Early Tuesday morning, beachgoers on Sunshine Beach in northeastern Australia were stunned by the sight of a giant sea snake washed up on the shore. The snake, identified as a venomous Stokes sea snake, was described by Sunshine Coast snake catcher Stuart McKenzie as quite hefty with a very venomous bite.

The reptile measured approximately 1.2 meters in length. McKenzie told Yahoo News Australia, "It was about one or two centimeters wide. They're naturally pretty big snakes, but this one was particularly large at its thickest point."

Initially reported to be alive, the snake was taken to the local wildlife hospital. However, the organization later updated that the snake was low on energy and did not survive its injury, passing away at the hospital.

Locals were amazed and startled by the size of the injured snake, with part of its body missing. One woman confessed she hadn't even known such creatures were nearby. A surfer said, "I'll never swim at Sunshine Beach again," after discovering such massive sea snakes exist.

Stokes sea snakes are a type of venomous sea snake from the Elapidae family, commonly found along the coasts from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka to Australia. These snakes are among the heaviest sea snakes and can grow up to two meters and 26 centimeters in circumference. Known for their aggression, they are known to attack without provocation.

Sea snakes are common in northern Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. McKenzie mentioned they typically sight two or three of these snakes on the beaches weekly. However, he advised beachgoers, "If you see a sea snake on the beach during your walk, just keep a respectful distance. Stay away and keep children and pets at a safe distance, then just call your local snake catcher."