I was once privy to a demonstration by a CSIRO officer with a Red Belly Black.
He was apparently following the major shows, and used to give info and show onlookers all manner of snakes.
The entire truck was a combination of series of locked containers,,, each one holding a particular reptile.
He was pulled over in a parking bay and having a rest, and when I commented on the myriad of little doors, he told me what they were for.
We got talking and he started telling me about the Red Belly Blacks.
He described them as snakes that only bite 12 or 13 year old boys.
From the obviously puzzled look on my face he expanded to say that they (the snakes) usually mind their own business and try to avoid
conflict,,,,,, and more often than not only 12 or 13 year old boys that persisted in annoying them would wind up getting bitten.
Then he said,,,, "I'll show you"
He opened a door up and got a pretty big fat Red Belly Black out,, and put it on the ground.
The old snake started to slither along the ground, and he kept stepping across in front of it.
Every time he stepped across, the snake would veer away to either side,,, and never showed any sign of striking at him.
He kept that up long enough for me to really understand what he was showing me,, then caught it, and placed it back in its little mobile motel.
I really appreciated him taking the time and effort to show me when he really didn't have to.
I do not fear death itself... Only its inopportune timing!
I've come to realize that,,,,, the two most loving, loyal, and trustworthy females in my entire life were both canines.