Place of the Black Snake.
A field guide to the reptiles of Walpole — pythons and dugites, geckos and goannas, the famous bobtail and the marbled gecko of the tingle forests. The Noongar name Nor-Nor-Nup means "place of the black snake" — fitting for this corner of the south-west.
Cold-blooded, sun-warmed.
Walpole-Nornalup National Park supports around 32 species of reptiles — from the tiger snake basking on the forest path to the marbled gecko clinging beneath bark on a tingle giant. Most spring to life on warm August days as winter's grip loosens.
The Noongar name for the area, Nor-Nor-Nup, means "the place of the black snake" — recognising long before European arrival that this is reptile country. Below, the species you're most likely to encounter, grouped by what they are and how to recognise them.
Sharing trails with reptiles
Logs, rocks and dense leaf litter are favourite shelter for snakes. Walk around fallen timber where possible.
All Australian snakes prefer to retreat. Stop, step back, give them a clear path. Almost all bites happen when snakes are cornered or stepped on.
Most bites strike below the knee. Sturdy hiking boots and long pants give meaningful protection on the trails.
Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage from the bite site upwards, keep the person still, call 000. Don't wash the bite — venom traces help identify the species.
Look kindly.
Every reptile here is protected by law. Don't kill, capture or harass them — even the venomous ones. They control rodents, recycle leaf litter, and are part of an ecosystem that has worked this way for tens of millions of years.
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