The images are of a female Green Turtle Chelonia mydas who having finished depositing her eggs is heading back to the water.

Michael reports that the team are monitoring turtle tracks to identify the turtle species, whether she has laid a nest or not, and whether there has been signs of disturbance to the nests. They also look out for any fox, dog and cat tracks within monitoring zone so this information can be passed onto the Feral Animal Control Officer.

Michael mentions that everyone on the team from Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) staff to local and interstate volunteers have been terrific to meet and work with. He suggests that anyone interested in wildlife conservation can apply for the next program. If YOU are interested check out the Ningaloo Turtle Program Website www.ningalooturtles.org.au

Snake venoms are complex cocktails of toxins, modified saliva that is aimed primarily at the immobilization/capture and digestion of prey animals, but may also be used as a form of defense. The Russell’s Viper Daboia russelii is a very widespread Asian species found in India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is an infamous snake in that it is probably the worlds leading contender in both snake envenomations (snake bites) and snake bite deaths.

This venom was supplied by Boots the Chemists - its intended use was to assist dentists in stopping blood loss after tooth extraction. Luckily for me Alan mentioned the Venomous Snake Course he had been on to his dentist who remembered that he had this at home and thought I might be interested in it. ABSOLUTELY YES I just love this kind of thing.

• Haemotoxic venom – is blood destroying. Blood clots or flows.
• Neurotoxic Venom – is nerve destroying. Causes paralysis.
• Myotoxic Venom – muscle destroying. Digests muscles and affects kidneys.
• Cardiotoxic – affects the heart functions. Stops heart working.
• Cytotoxic venom – is cell destroying. Digests cell membranes.

All of the above are not good for you. Until recently it was taken as a given that different families of venomous snakes had broadly different types of venom. Thus Vipers had mainly Haemotoxic venoms and Elapids like our brown snakes had mainly Neurotoxic venom. This has all changed now, and as more research is conducted it has just become an even more confused and complex problem for scientists to grasp and health care professionals to understand in order to assist patents better with anti-venom treatment.

In California lives the Pacific Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus helleri. In a flat, Joshua treed desert area near Phelan these Pacific rattlers have haemotoxic venom – so if bitten you bleed badly. Head up to the mountains just 2 hours away by car and the same species has neurotoxic venom, so you get paralysed instead. In an ideal world your doctor would need to have in stock the right anti venom for both types of toxin and know which was injected. Previously they assumed all rattlers had the same type. This is a new problem. Previously one kind of anti venom would have been available for one assumed outcome of the rattlers bite. Now a new approach must be considered.

Herpetologists are now recognising that the composition of venom can vary greatly between individuals and even sexes of the same species. It is assumed that the different rattlers although the same species have specialised venom attuned to quickly overpower different food preferences in their habitats.

These large skinks are a feature of the summer. With their raised prominent scales they are unlikely to be mistaken for any other lizard. Reaching 41cm in length, four subspecies are known, all but one found only in WA.

Threatened Bobtails will turn towards the danger, throw their heads back and open wide their mouths. A potential predator or unawares walker sees a bright pink mouth and a broad blue rippling tongue - a startling display that is often but by no means always effective in making you back off. They are preyed upon by animals like snakes, kookaburras, crows, cats and dogs. With a slow breeding rate they gradually die out in habitats where predation is ongoing. Living around 15 years in the wild (35 recorded in captivity), Bobtails are a social and monogamous species pairing up for a while and mating with the same partner each season. Between 1 and 4 young are born alive although usually just a single pair, of young is produced. The young are largely independent from birth, bobtails live in loose colonies with juveniles staying near to where they are born.

Omnivorous and feeding on native vegetation and flowers as well as snails, insects, eggs, carrion and almost any edible thing they encounter. They have an almost legendary love for tomatoes and strawberries and many happy Bobtails are fed and looked after in suburban gardens, where their snail munching is much appreciated.