A captive Australian coast taipan named Cyclone has secreted more than 5.2g of venom, three times the average amount of venom for the species and enough to kill 400 people, breaking the world record for the amount of venom secreted in a single squeeze, leaving caretakers amazed.
According to information from the Australian Reptile Park, a zoo located about 50km north of Sydney in New South Wales, Cyclone is one of the most dangerous snakes here, famous for its unpredictable temperament.

The coastal taipan is a snake native to the coastal areas of northern and eastern Australia and is known as one of the most venomous snakes on Earth. They are typically around 2 metres long. Their heads are rectangular with a blue-grey snout and large yellow-brown eyes, and their bodies vary in colour from yellow to reddish brown, dark brown and black. The coastal taipan is very aggressive.
The previous record for the amount of venom released in a single milking was held by another coastal taipan named Whiplash at the park, with 4.9g of venom released in a single milking in 2022.
The Australian Reptile Park is the only facility in Australia that milks taipans and many other dangerous snakes, including eastern brown snakes (Pseudonaja textilis), tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and black snakes (Pseudechis) to produce antivenom.
The venom is then freeze-dried, which means the water is removed at low temperatures, before being sent to vaccine manufacturers. The record amount of venom from Cyclone will help save many lives.