AN animal keeper at West Midland Safari Park will head to Papua New Guinea – on the hunt for the third most venomous snake in the world.

Steve Slater will fly out for a three-week field expedition today to find, catch and milk the venom from wild Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni) for the Australian venom research unit Snakebite project.

Although the park already houses two of the snakes, it will be the first time Mr Slater, a senior keeper, will be catching the wild snakes, which are responsible for 400 deaths a year in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Slater said: “It is a once in a lifetime experience and I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

People can catch up on Mr Slater’s adventures via wmsp.co.uk when he returns in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend.