Venom Diaries with Billy Collett
Welcome to Venom Diaries!
Join Billy Collett as he takes you behind the scenes of one of the most dangerous yet life-saving programs in the world: milking venomous snakes to help create anti-venom.
Through weekly episodes, you’ll get a close-up look at the incredible work that goes into protecting Australians from deadly snakebites. From handling some of the world’s most dangerous snakes to explaining the process of venom extraction, Venom Diaries brings you inside a program that has saved over 25,000 lives since it began in the 1950s.
With more than 250 venomous snakes currently part of the program, each episode offers an exciting mix of education, conservation, and action – giving you the chance to see what it takes to turn deadly venom into a life-saving cure.
Meet Billy Collett
Billy is a lifelong reptile enthusiast whose passion for saltwater crocodiles and snakes runs deep. He’s been with the Park since 2006, mastering the care of some of Australia’s most iconic species and rising through the ranks to lead the team as Park Manager!
In April 2025, Billy and the Australian Reptile Park brought his passion online with the launch of Venom Diaries on YouTube. Sharing his daily adventures in the Weigel Venom Centre with the world’s deadliest snakes, the series quickly became a hit, captivating reptile lovers across YouTube and Instagram. From thrilling encounters to behind-the-scenes insights, Billy delivers the excitement of the reptile world straight to viewers’ screens!
Venom Program
Since the 1950s, the Australian Reptile Park has run the country’s life-saving Venom Program, making it the sole supplier of terrestrial snake venom in Australia for anti-venom production. The program has saved more than 25,000 lives and continues to save around 300 Australians each year. Today, over 250 venomous snakes are housed at the Park’s state-of-the-art Weigel Venom Centre, where trained keepers milk them on a fortnightly basis to collect venom that plays a vital role in protecting Australians from snakebites.
Snake venom is a powerful, highly evolved substance – essentially modified saliva delivered through hollow fangs. Each species produces its own unique venom, a complex mix of proteins that can paralyse muscles, attack the nervous system, damage blood cells or destroy tissue. While incredibly dangerous, this same venom becomes a life-saving tool through the Park’s venom program, turning one of nature’s deadliest weapons into a cure.
The Snakes Featured on Venom Diaries Include:
King Brown Snake
The king brown snake, part of the black snake family, can grow over 2.5m and has variable brown colouring with subtle patterns. Found across much of Australia, it mainly feeds on other reptiles but will occasionally eat birds, mammals, and frogs. Females lay 8–20 eggs in sheltered spots, with no care given after laying.
Eastern Brown Snake
The Eastern brown snake is a highly venomous species found across eastern Australia, feeding on rodents and often coming into contact with humans. It inhabits grasslands, pastures, and woodlands. Breeding occurs in spring, with females laying up to 30 eggs that hatch in 36 to 95 days.
Mainland Tiger Snake
The tiger snake is a stout, highly venomous species with variable colouring and banding, commonly found in south-eastern Australia. It inhabits swamps, wetlands, and waterways, feeding mainly on frogs but also taking lizards, birds, small mammals, and fish. Females give birth to 20–30 live young in late summer, with some litters reaching up to 70.
Common Death Adder
The death adder is a venomous, stout snake with a triangular head and a tail used to lure prey. It lives in woodlands and grasslands, feeding on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Females give birth to live young, and it rarely bites humans unless threatened.
Coastal Taipan
The coastal taipan is a highly venomous, slender snake measuring 1.5–2 m, with a light to dark brown body and a cream-yellow belly with pink or orange flecks. It inhabits forests, heaths, grassy dunes, and cane fields along coastal and northern Australia, preying mainly on small mammals. Breeding occurs from August to September, with females laying 7–20 eggs that hatch in up to 68 days.
Watch Venom Diaries Here
Don’t miss a moment of the action! Every Tuesday, join Billy on Venom Diaries as he takes you behind the scenes of the Australian Reptile Park to showcase the incredible and life-saving work of the Venom Program. Watch new episodes weekly on our YouTube channel.