Rough sea conditions bring 'unusual' venomous snakes to Plett Beach

Rough sea conditions over the last week washed up highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snakes from the East Coast to Plettenberg Bay beaches, reported the Knysna Plett Herald.

Experts confirmed that it's 'extremely unusual' and 'very rare' for these type of snakes to be found where they were.

Two of these pelagic snakes, which are most commonly found in tropical waters around the world, washed up on Plett beaches over the last week.

The yellow-bellied sea snakes were easily identified due to their distinct characteristics - they have a black or dark blue-brown upper half with a yellowish lower half.

Apparently, these 'rare' snakes washing up in unnatural areas is known as a 'cold shock.' Since these snakes are used to warmer tropical water, rough seas send them into colder water, shocking them and they're unable to swim, hence washing up on shore.

Experts can't just put these snakes back into colder water because they are out of their natural environment and in shock. The snakes will need to be rehabilitated in a special environment and gradually heated up before being put back into warmer tropical waters alike to their natural habitat.

According to the Knysna-Plett Herald, CapeNature senior field marine ranger Chanel Hauvette stated that the two snakes discovered along Plett beaches had been successfully rescued alive by local snake experts and were currently being stabilised and nurtured back to health in a local aquarium, adding that they would be released back into the wild when sea conditions improved.

Should you encounter these or other 'unusual' snakes along the coast, experts are warning that you stay away from them as bites can be fatal and no anti-venom is available.