Travels around the world – If it doesn’t kill you…It probably isn’t Australian

As the title suggests, Australia is the home to many of the worlds most deadly creatures, it doesn’t seem to matter which of the environments you choose there is something there that seems intent on wanting to hurt you.  Sometimes just the environment itself is enough to see you off, the news is full of people who head off for a little walk and end up the subject of a man hunt after getting lost in the wilderness and becoming disorientated.

I am sure we are all familiar with the little creatures that will hurt you like the Red Back Spider or the Funnel web spider but I was surprised to find that eight out of the ten most deadly snakes in the world actually live in Queensland.  While camping on a hot night in Queensland we decided to leave the tent door open and casually asked a guy at the camp site if there were any snakes around only to get the reply “You haven’t left your door open have you” 

As well as the Sharks and the Jelly fish, the Crocodiles, Snakes and Spiders and not forgetting the Mosquitoes there are other things living in Australia that I had never heard of before.  The Cassowary is a 6 foot bird that lives in the rainforest, it has 3 pointed toes and a tendency to kick when startled, it also has a 3 inch, razor sharp horn on its head just in case the toes are not effective.  We were warned about these while in North Queensland as not only are they dangerous but they are easily startled and tend to be quite well camouflaged.  Just what you need when you are out for a walk and concentrating on not getting lost.

Finally, when you have managed to not get attacked by any of the creatures it may pay you to avoid the Gympie Gympie.  This is the plant world’s way of getting in on the act, a stinging tree.  If you are unlucky enough to rub against its leaves or try to pick it you will not hold on to it for long as its tiny spines break off in your skin causing a terrible stinging / Burning sensation.   I am assured that this will subside after a while but this malevolent tree has not finished there as the needles will stay in the skin and the pain will keep coming back whenever the effected area gets wet.  According to the experts the only way to get rid of this involves the liberal use of leg wax but even this carries no guarantee.