After the Wildfires and Floods, Australia is Now Dealing with Spiders, with Male Spider Venom Six Times More Toxic Than Female Venom
According to a report by the Australian 9news website on the 22nd, the continuous high temperatures and consecutive rainfall in Australia have led to increased humidity, creating ‘ideal conditions’ for ‘super dangerous’ funnel-web spiders to emerge from their hiding places. The number of funnel-web spiders at the Australian Reptile Park has surged, forcing the park to issue a warning.
Illustration. Source: Xinhua News Agency
‘Male funnel-web spiders often wander around in humid evenings, so this small rain and heat have created ideal conditions for their more frequent activity,’ said park manager Manny. ‘Female spiders don’t wander around much, they mostly wait for male spiders to come to them, but this is bad news because male spiders are super dangerous.’
Despite their relatively small size, the venom of male funnel-web spiders is six times more toxic than that of females, and being bitten is extremely deadly, requiring immediate emergency care and hospitalization. Manny said, ‘They ‘have killed people in the past’ and frequently lurk in swimming pools and houses, especially when they can’t return to their nests before daybreak. Clothes piles and shoe piles are easily become their resting places.’
Further reading:
Australian bushfires ravage, koalas may be listed as endangered species
Australia’s bushfires, which have been raging for months, have severely damaged wildlife habitats, and koalas have died in large numbers. The Australian Federal Government has warned that they may soon be formally listed as ‘vulnerable species.’
The report states that the decision of whether to list koalas as an endangered species will be made by the ‘Species Conservation Science Committee.’
Reports say that disease, forest fires, car accidents and attacks by dogs pose a serious threat to the survival of koalas, and they have been listed as ‘vulnerable species’ since 2012.
Bushfires devastated most areas of Kangaroo Island and the southern coast of New South Wales, with large numbers of healthy koalas unable to escape the flames.
AFP reports that thousands of people have signed petitions to relocate koalas to New Zealand to help them escape the deadly Australian bushfires, but this plan has been opposed by officials.
Australian bushfires are heartbreaking to see.
Australia’s bushfires have been raging for more than four months, and every scene is heartbreaking.
Previously reported, Australia’s bushfires have destroyed 80% of the koalas’ natural habitat, more than 20,000 koalas have died; over 500 million birds and other animals have perished; the area burned by the fires is more than 525,000 square kilometers; Australia’s multi-locations temperatures have been above 40℃ for several consecutive days, and even close to 50℃.
On June 12th, residents in the Cumbung area of New South Wales photographed photos after the rain, the rain was polluted by the ash produced by the bushfires, presenting a brownish or ink-like black color and emitted a pungent smoky smell.
