Tag: Great Barrier Reef

Large, venomous snake emerges from sea in ‘surreal’ encounter

A wildlife photographer this week shared a “super rare” photo showing a large sea snake breaching nearly clear of the surface over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea.

A wildlife photographer this week shared a “super rare” photo showing a large sea snake breaching nearly clear of the surface over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea.

The eye-catching image caused some of Rachelle Mackintosh’s Instagram followers to look twice while trying to figure out precisely what they were seeing.

But Mackintosh assured in her description that it was an olive sea snake, a venomous reef predator that typically remains hidden by day, breaking the surface in what seemed a bizarre behavior.

Olive sea snake swimming. Photo: Rachelle Mackintosh

Mackintosh, from Sydney, Australia, told For The Win Outdoors that she captured the image in June 2017, and that the snake measured nearly seven feet.

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She was on a multi-day diving expedition at Ribbon Reefs, a remote section of the Great Barrier Reef known for its marine diversity and pristine waters, “to spend a few days swimming with dwarf minke whales.”

“One of the coolest things about them is that their vocalizations sound like Jedi light sabres in action,” Mackintosh joked. “They’re also very friendly and will hang out around the boat for hours on end.”

But for several moments, the olive sea snake stole the spotlight.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNlQXxVFWA4/

“The snake seemed to appear from nowhere and swam on the surface for a couple of seconds, when suddenly it started doing this weird little move where it would slightly lift its head, like it was looking for something,” Mackintosh recalled. “Then it did this full kind of lift out of the water and then splashed down and disappeared again.

“It was super surreal – and one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.”

Mackintosh said she was told by a researcher that the snake might have been trying to escape predation by sharks, or merely inspecting its surroundings, or simply engaging in playful behavior.

Olive sea snakes are common along Australia’s northern coast and among the reef systems that comprise the Great Barrier Reef. They must surface to breathe but can remain submerged for about two hours.

They typically hunt small fish and crustaceans, primarily at night, and hide in the reefs during the day. While the sea snakes are not aggressive toward humans, they will bite if threatened or harassed, and bites can be fatal.

–Images courtesy of Rachelle Mackintosh

A swim to cool off turns tragic

After a day of work in the field, four Queensland Park and Wildlife rangers stopped to take a swim to cool off when a shark appeared.

After a day of work in the field, four Queensland Park and Wildlife rangers paused to take a swim to cool off at the southern Great Barrier Reef on Monday when events turned tragic.

As colleagues were returning to the boat ahead of him, Zach Robba, 23, was attacked by a shark and later died of the injuries after an emergency flight to the Gladstone hospital, according to the Australian Associated Press.

The rangers, whose work is to protect Australia’s national and marine parks, state forests and other reserves, had been doing maintenance work at North West Island, located 47 miles from Gladstone. Afterward, they went for a swim.

“They would have witnessed the attack,” Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Anderson told reporters Tuesday, referring to Robba’s colleagues. “There were four people swimming off the back of a boat, cooling down after a day’s work.”

Robba suffered severe injuries to his leg, hand and arm. It was the third shark attack off North West Island in three months, but the first resulting in a fatality.

The species of shark was unknown.

Iona College Old Boys’ Association, of which Robba was a member (class of 2014), shared the sad news on Facebook. Iona College’s Father Michael Twigg wrote, “This [being a ranger] was Zach’s dream job and he embraced all that it entailed…

“At this difficult time, we keep all Ionians in our prayers who are affected by this very sad loss.

“Every one of us has a Zach shaped hole in our heart. And each shape is unique.

“At the appropriate time we will be available to welcome all Old Boys to gather safely and give thanks for Zach’s life.”

Leeanne Enoch, the Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, told the Brisbane Times, “The ranger network is like a family and we have lost a brother today. I send my deepest condolences to his parents and loved ones.”

Photo of Vlassof Cay in the Great Barrier Reef courtesy of Mark Kolbe/Getty Images. Photo of shark courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. Photo of Zach Robba courtesy of Iona College.

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