By Derek Schlennstedt
1. What is something people don’t know about you?
That the third bedroom in my home houses my own reptile collection. I have two snakes and 18 lizards.
2. What should you do if you encounter a snake in the bush?
If you encounter a snake in the bush then there is no excuse to do anything other than look and not touch. Never interfere with a snake in the bush and they won’t threaten you, they’ll leave you alone. No one should do harm to any wildlife, which is also protected by law. I tell people that the ultimate form of snake bite protection is to leave them alone.
3. When are you most likely to see a snake?
Snakes are always around; we just don’t always see them. They can be active at any time of the year but it’s more likely that you will see them during hotter weather, particularly in the early morning basking in the sun. What people might not know is that snakes can overheat, so when it gets really hot they start seeking out cooler places and that’s when people are often confronted by them in buildings.
4. What should you do if you’re bitten?
If you’re out in the bush, you should be prepared with a first aid kit on hand – that includes a long, broad stretch bandage. It’s essential to apply pressure to a snake bite, wrapping it from the bite site to up the limb and to immobilise. Sit still and try to get help to come to you/the victim. Call Triple-O immediately.
5. What do you find fascinating about snakes?
I am lucky that I have made a career out of helping people overcome their unnecessary fear of snakes and teaching people how to deal with snakes if they come across one. It’s really interesting how people perceive snakes, particularly those people who fear them without ever even having an encounter. I find children are the most enlightened and usually interested in learning more.
6. Have you always been drawn to reptiles?
I have been interested in reptiles since my earliest childhood memory. Lizards are my favourite type of reptile, particularly goannas.
7. How many and what species of snakes do you have at Healesville Sanctuary?
We have 10 different species of snakes at Healesville Sanctuary: two venomous – eastern tiger snake and red-bellied black snake; Australia’s largest snake – the Scrub python; and seven species of pythons.
9. Do you have a favourite scaly friend in your reptile menagerie, or a favourite memory with one?
I treat all our reptiles equally but admit that Chantilly, our Lace Monitor, is my favourite. He was brought to us by a member of the public in 2004 after being found by the side of the road. We discovered that he has a neurological condition and a diseased eye, which we had to remove last year. His condition meant we had to hand-feed him and handle him, and keep him safe at the Sanctuary rather than release him back into the wild. Sometimes I take Chantilly out into the Nature Play space at the Sanctuary where he will happily wander while being watched. It makes my day to see people come up and ask lots of questions about him. Chantilly is a great ambassador to break down any human/reptile barriers.
