Social media influencers risk huge fines and even death by recreating a Steve Irwin stunt with a deadly snake.
Instagram influencers attempt their own ‘crikey’ moment by picking up and posing with the inland taipan – the world’s most venomous snake.
All native snakes are protected in Australia and penalties for capturing them can be up to $464,400 and even jail time.
FNQ Nature Tours owner and nature guide James Boettcher said he became aware of the deadly behavior a decade ago.
He is critical of influencers who try to copy the nature warrior, who once picked up a taipan and made it lick its face.
“I’ve noticed a trend where people have gotten caught up in the social media game, and I think they’ve lost sight of their educational responsibilities,” Mr. Boettcher shared. Yahoo News.
Mr Boettcher is critical of social media influencers trying to copy a famous Steve Irwin stunt
Mr Boettcher (pictured) admits he interacted with wildlife for his Instagram posts and saw a jump in his followers
“They just pose with the snake and take a sentence from Wikipedia to add to their post for educational value, and boom, they’re a wildlife educator,” he said.
Mr Boettcher said it was OK for someone like Steve Irwin to pose with snakes as he had a permit.
He is concerned about the impact of the influencers’ behavior on the snakes, which in some cases are held for up to half an hour while photos are taken.
The Queensland Department of Environment (DESI) states that capturing a protected snake is an offense.
Violators can be fined up to $15,480 plus two years in prison.
The fine increases to $464,000 if the violation occurs in a national park or protected area.
Aside from a huge fine, an encounter with a domestic taipan can result in headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, kidney failure and eventual death within just 45 minutes.
The Australian Museum states that only a handful of people have ever been bitten by the inland taipan, and all survived thanks to prompt first aid and hospital treatment.
Mr Boettcher admits he started interacting with wildlife for his Instagram posts and saw a jump in his followers.
“That’s when I realized I was becoming my own worst enemy: I was doing exactly what I wouldn’t want anyone else to do,” he said.