- Photographer Ross McGibbon was doing a close proximity shoot of the snake
- McGibbon points out the snake is not being aggressive but defensive for escape
- Dugite’s are naturally shy but easily agitated when confronted or threatened
Experienced reptile photographer Ross McGibbon had a closer than expected encounter with a highly venomous dugite snake while on a recent close-up shoot.
The dugite – a snake that is native to Western Australia and highly venomous – decided it liked the look of the camera while Mr McGibbon was in close proximity with the animal, forcing him to give it up temporarily.
‘I had to surrender my camera to the snake while it explored it with interest,’ he wrote.
‘The snake then decided I was in-between it and its escape route.’
The dugite then moved into defensive mode when it felt Mr McGibbon may be a potential threat.
‘The snake uses defensive posturing to intimidate me into retreating to allow it room to escape,’ he wrote.
‘This should not be mistaken for aggression or chasing.
The snake decided to take a closer look at the camera leaving photographer Ross McGibbon no choice but to step back and let the snake have its way.
The snakes actions shouldn’t be considered aggressive but rather a natural defensive instinct in order to clear the way for a clean escape into the shrubbery
‘It is simply instinctual defensive behaviour designed to put any perceived predators on the back foot to afford them the opportunity to escape.’
The snake’s venom is highly toxic and considered to be extremely dangerous to humans, and is responsible for 70 per cent of all snake bites reported at Perth Hospital.