South Carolina Man Bitten by World’s Most Venomous Snake Kept as Pet
In an extraordinary and terrifying incident, a South Carolina man is currently fighting for his life after being bitten by an inland taipan — considered to be the most venomous snake globally.
Handling Deadly Reptiles
The man, who has been identified as Jeffrey Leibowitz, is an enthusiastic patron of exotic reptiles. He gained some renown through his online videos, often showing him freely interacting with hazardous members of his collection. Earlier on the day of the incident, he published a video handling the deadly inland taipan while maintaining that he had the ability to control its movement. “I can control his turn… There’s no need to be so scared of him,” he had asserted in the video.
A Dangerous Gambit
Following the distressing event, a subsequent search of his property revealed a total of 14 snakes, including a green mamba, two gaboon vipers, two black forest cobras, two neotropical rattlesnakes, a fer-de-lace, a death adder, an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, two other adult rattlesnakes of unknown species, a small juvenile rattlesnake (species unknown) and the infamous taipan.
Poison Potency
Jeff Camper, a renowned biologist and snake specialist at Francis Marion University, highlights the taipan’s extraordinary venom potency. According to Camper, a single bite from this snake is deadly enough to potentially “kill up to 100 people”.
Critical Condition
The potent venom had a devastating impact on Leibowitz. He is currently on a ventilator as his diaphragm is likely paralyzed, noted Camper. The expert added that the patient’s body might want to “shut down relatively soon”, anticipating possible long-term or even permanent organ damage.
A Specialist Predator
University of Queensland Australia Associate Professor Bryan Fry offered some insight into the taipan’s toxicity. “Taipans have evolved distinct strategies to absolutely nuke their incredibly formidable prey like the long-haired rats, offering them no chance of retaliation,” he explained.
Unwanted Guests
Local zoos or reptile areas expressed their inability to accommodate the animals due to unknown health and environmental concerns related to their living conditions and possible illnesses. Consequently, following a voluntary surrender from a family member, the venomous reptiles were handed over to law enforcement for euthanasia.
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Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
