Most folks would be reluctant to get this close to a wild snake, and curiously, most wild snakes would be reluctant to allow such
a close approach. This Keelback was found in a Melaleuca swamp in a remote area of Eastern Arnhem Land, in the Northern
Territory, Australia. During the day this species is extremely nervous and can be quite pugnatious, however when I spotlit this
individual it allowed me to not only allow a very close approach, but to stroke it on the head with a twig.

Freshwater snakes are an important predator of the introduced Cane Toad. It is thought that as the family Colubridae (a relatively
recent arrival in Australia) evolved alongside the family Bufonidae (which does not naturally occur in Australia) they have a natural
level of resistance to the toad's toxins.