Looks idyllic doesn't it? It's not.
Over the weekend, a 6 metre Great White shark took a bite out of a smaller, but still pretty damn big 3 metre Great White that was being towed into shore after being caught off this Queensland beach. Hearing the story on the news got me thinking about the other deadly animals that we have Down Under. As I started doing some research, I wondered how any of us have survived.
The Funnel Web Spider
Aww. I know what you're thinking. Pictures of kangaroos are used all over the world as an Aussie icon. Don't let that fool you. If you don't believe me, read on.
*A kangaroo terrorised a Canberra family after bursting through a 3m-high window of the house's master bedroom and on to the bed where Beat Ettlin, his partner Verity Beman and their nine-year-old daughter Beatrix lay.
"My initial thought was, it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window," Mr Ettlin said yesterday. "It seemed about as likely as a kangaroo."
While the family took refuge under the blankets, the injured animal proceeded to jump on top of them, gouging holes in the furniture and smearing blood all over the walls.
The next thing Mr Ettlin heard was his 10-year-old son Leighton screaming from his bed: "There's a 'roo in my room!"
A chef, originally from the Swiss city of Stans, Mr Ettlin, 42 -- dressed only in Bonds undies -- dragged the thrashing and bleeding 2m-tall marsupial out the front door.
As quickly as it had come, the kangaroo vanished into a nearby reserve.
"I think he's a hero, a hero in Bonds undies," Ms Beman said.
Told ya so.
*text in italics taken from www.themercury.com.au
Photographs from google images.
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Comments
I didn't mention the crocs or box jellyfish. And don't even get me started on the men.
It is well known that Austrailia is the deadly critter capital of the world. We didn't even mention the huge crocs that a famous movie speaks to.
And then there is the deadly koala...rolling eucalyptus leaves and smoking them.....where the smoke drifts over the Indian ocean that then settles over China and methalyzes the population!!! Pack smoking koalas are especially dangerous I hear....but you know better than I!!!
That octopus is fantastic!
Actually; those are some scary examples of what wildlife can do to protect and feed it's self.
Red Belly Rattle snake GOP?
Folk never say:` Octopussy.
Xenu, not a horror...more like a thriller.
JD, those koalas are pure evil. They look all cuddly and stuff, but it's just to lure you in before the attack.
Spotted, he's pretty for an octopus isn't he? I'd love to show you around if you ever make it this way.
Nana, we're normal! Normal for us anyway...
wschanz, yes. We've noticed more shark attacks here lately because the fish are coming in closer to shore. It's all the cycle of life I guess.
Owl, maybe I should move north :)
Mr James, when I was writing the post, I was thinking how unoriginal the names we have for these animals are. Great white shark, brown snake, red belly black snake...the greatest danger may lie in a lack of imagination.
Nick, mother nature indeed.
handymn, I'm tryin' ;)
Trig, if you laughed, I'm happy. I remember Nana's terror at the brown recluse.
I just had to come back here Natalie. That ANYTHING would attack a 3m great white, dead or not, is cause for alarm. "They can't jump, but they do like to chase you around and they seem to take a long time to die." Jeff would NOT be digging a scene like that, but if we could get his reaction for a youtube we could all be rich. Those octopus look ... dangerous. And now the koala's too?
Lets not forget the box jelly fish or it's buddy the irukandji, those suckers will kill you big time.
Or how about the gympie bush, so named because if you happen to prick yourself on it's thorns you will be crippled for some time afterwards.
Even the odd but sweet looking platypus is poisonous. They have venomous barbs behind their "feet." Can't remember if it's both sexes or not, but it'll make you well and truly ill.
Then there's the crocodiles. Every year a few people are "taken" by the large saltwater crocodiles that are everywhere north of Brisbane.
Oops, one more. In Australia even things like birds can kill you. The cassowary has a claw that is quite capable of eviscerating a human (and has done). They are the third largest bird in the world, and they have an attitude.
No doubt Australia is a beautiful country but it's a dangerous one!
Some of your centipedes and millipedes are pretty nasty too!
Trey, I'll take your word for it!
Trig, I know I'm joking about it, but you're right. The shark attack is huge news here at the moment and with summer coming up, it makes me wonder how many people will put off their vacations to such a popular vacation spot.
Ablonde, the cassowary is an evil looking thing but I didn't realise they were dangerous too. I also didn't know about the platypus. If I didn't know better I'd think they were trying to keep us in the dark in order to prevent a mass exodus. Re the toadfish, aren't they repulsive? I feel like locking my doors.
Janie, he had that coming. Perfect comeback.
Kisses,
Marcela
Then I went to Australia (Melbourne), a few years back and was just sure I would meet my maker courtesy of some terrifiying creature. We were on the beach at one point (and by the way, what's UP with all those cake shops??? they were fabulous!!) soaking up some sun. I heard some pre-pubescent teenage boys giggling. When I looked up and squinted in the sun, I saw topless ladies. Of course, I had to nudge the husband. Strange how he became instantly alert....
But anyhoo...my point is.....as I decided to go in the water, just a teeny-tiny bit...I saw tons of blue jelly fish. Everywhere.
What's up with that? Are they the killer jelly fish mentioned above? No one seemed too concerned, but I lost my chance to step in the Australian ocean! Dammit! Just too scary...
:(
Rated for EEEEEK!!!
Janie, do you think he's doing it on purpose? He has to be...
VG, this is my belated Halloween post then.
LM, funnily enough, rattlesnakes scare the hell out of me. I'd rather take my chances with a brown snake.
Trig, where does Odin come into that?
Nana, you're neighbours must LOVE you.
Marcela, come by yourself. You'll always have a friend here.
Jlynne, they were blue bottles. They'll sting you, but I don't think there has been any fatalities from them. It still really hurts though and it's not unusual for people to take bottles of vinegar to the beach with them to treat a blue bottle sting.
Tinky, the kangaroos will come in handy for the world takeover we're planning.
http://joshfulton.blogspot.com/2009/10/israeli-police-storm-jerusalems-holiest.html
It's still your birthday here in Washington State so this has to count!!
Just looked at the clock, I'm 28 minutes late. Shit. Sorry Natalie, but my b-day wishes should still count. I demand that they do.
Happy Birthday!
I have hilarious little mental video playing in my mind of this man wearing whatever the heck "Bonds undies" are and nothing else and wrestling, dancing, jumping, dragging this frantic kangaroo through his house to the front door. Then he tosses him out, slams the door, and rubs his hands together in a "good riddance to bad rubbish" sort of way, as he heads off to comfort his terrified son, adjusting his Bonds undies as he goes. I tell ya, it's hilarious. I'll be thinking about this all day. This and Steve's "Thanks, I've been looking for things to fear" comment.
Good stuff, Natalie.
(I just had to say that)
Well, ~singing~ HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU, YOU BELONG IN A ZOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
What?
;)
A few scorpions, couple of snakes. Got nibbled on by a dingo on Fraser. (Which by the way, is where the rangers call surfers: Sharky Snacks.) No I mean really. He came up and nibbled on my back. It was the sweetest thing. For a wild dingo anyway.
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)
Several layers of clothing (most of the year) seems a small price to pay.
Hell, we even have beaches.
Seriously. We do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj7lvcVWQmA
Ski much?
-e