| ARP Celebrates ‘60 Years of saving lives |
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Australian Reptile Park Celebrates ‘60 Years of Saving Lives and Bringing Smiles’on 17 September 09 During its 59 year history with the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (now the CSL) the Reptile Park has helped save over 15,000 lives and fast tracked the production of snake and funnel-web spider anti-venoms. In 1951 the only life saving anti-venom was for the tiger snake. However, by the early 60’s, Australians were able to sleep easier with the knowledge there was an anti-venom available for terrestrial snakes (taipan, brown, king brown and death adder), well ahead of the Laboratories scheduled timeline. This was due to the efforts of Eric Worrell and his mates’ persistence in collecting the venom.
Most anti venoms were developed by a team of scientists led by Doctor Struan Sutherland, Head of Immunology at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. He also updated first aid for snake or spider bite that made conventional tourniquets and incision unnecessary. He replaced the old method with a restricting crepe bandage over the bite and wrapped firmly the entire length of the limb. This technique effectively restricts the spread of the venom through the body until medical treatment is available. He also developed a chemical kit that, in conjunction with the knowledge of the locality, enables a particular snake species to be identified.
In 1970 Eric Worrell received an MBE personally from the Queen in recognition of his lifesaving role in the development of anti-venoms. In the same year the Australian Reptile Park began providing Sydney funnel-web spider venom to the CSL to assist with the development of anti-venom. This spider had caused numerous fatalities in the most heavily populated area of Australia in previous years. The breakthrough came in 1980 when Dr Sutherland released the new funnel-web anti-venom to hospitals. There have been no further deaths from funnel-web spider bites since the advent of this medication.
Reptile Park 60 Year Timeline 1949 The beginnings of the Australian Reptile Park…Eric Worrell one of Australia’s first naturalists, founds Umina Beach Aquarium. 1951 Eric Worrell begins collecting snake venoms for the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, where still to this day the park remains the sole supplier for the nation’s anti-venom program. Over its long relationship with the now CSL, the park has assisted in saving over 15,000 lives. 1959 Moves to a failed orange orchard in Gosford 1963 Australia's first 'big' icon and the Reptile Park's mascot - 40 tone, 30 meter, is Ploddy the dinosaur is built at the Park entrance overlooking the Pacific Highway. Ploddy now sits majestically overlooking the Sydney-Newcastle freeway 1973 Discovers a small colony of Parma wallabies locally. This species of wallaby was thought to be extinct on the mainland. The Park successfully breeds these wallabies until numbers within the zoo population allow this animal to be released into the wild. 1985 The Reptile Park visitation down to less than half of what it had been in the 'golden days' and business must find a solution or close down. A "Save the Reptile Park" Committee is formed independently to help the Park through tough times. More than 100,000 signatures requested state government assistance, which was rejected. A management team is formed to steer the Reptile Park, which included future owners John and Robyn Weigel. 1987 Eric Worrell dies of a heart attack, aged 63. 1989 5 metre long 'Eric' the salt water crocodile is imported from the Northern Territory on a special jet freighter - named in honour of Eric Worrell. The Park enjoys big crowds. 1992 John and Robyn Weigel take on the reins of the Australian Reptile Park 1996 The park moves again, this time to the magic surrounds of the Australian Bush, just near the Gosford exit, where it remains today. It was the first zoo of its size to move 2000 The Park’s main building is destroyed by a fire. Rising from the ashes the park launches two magnificently themed exhibits, never before seen in an Australian zoo- Lost World of Reptiles and Spider World. 2006 The Park is one of four zoos to establish an insurance population for Tasmanian devils to assist in combating the devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) 2008 Australian Reptile Park Director John Weigel receives one of the nation’s highest civilian awards – Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. The award is announced by the Governor General as part of the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in recognition of John’s contributions to Australian tourism, herpetology, and snake venom production.
Article contributed by Australian Reptile Park Advertising
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 January 2010 ) |
Ericmilkingasnake(1).jpg "Australian Reptile Park")
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