Body cam images show Darren Darch holding the dugite’s head with his left hand as he cuts it free of a bird net with a Stanley knife. Photo: supplied.
Wildlife rescuer Darren Darch performed an “extremely dangerous” operation to rescue one of the world’s most venomous snakes last week.
“A dugite from Pink Lake caught in bird netting has had a remarkable stroke of luck,” he said.
The reptile was partly immersed in a fish pond, tightly entangled in the netting, when the home owner called Mr Darch.
“She had to put the netting across because birds kept stealing her koi fish,” he said.
“That’s why it was so chillaxed, it was very cold water.”
Mr Darch, who is also a pest control technician, said they took the call just after lunch.
“I knew straight away what we had to do and what equipment to use,” he said.
“It was beautifully calm and luckily we got a new technician on board, Alex, he is in training for both pest technician and snake catching.”
They freed the snake using a Stanley knife and then scissors.
Mr Darch said the snake was swollen where the net was tightest, but the swelling went down immediately after he cut it free.
“It didn’t need any medical intervention at all which is always nice,” he said.
“Firstly, he was found, secondly he was able to be removed without injury and finally he has been released wild and free just as nature intended.
“I’m just lucky we had a very lovely lady that wanted to save the snake.”
They then released the snake at one of the four sites Mr Darch has permission to use for the purpose.
