Dangerous Animals Of Australia
If you’ve decided to visit Australia, I’m sure there is a slight amount of nervousness setting in about some of its creatures. No doubt someone has told you a little horror story that has set your mind racing. This article will tell you more about some of these nasty creatures. It also aims to reassure you that there is a VERY low chance that you will encounter one of these dangerous Australian animals.
Australia probably does have more than its fair share of horrible creatures. There is one that can in fact kill you in less than 3 minutes. There are at least 10 that could kill you and they range greatly in size. The Great White Shark is probably the biggest and the Funnel Web Spider is one of the smallest. These two are often talked about by travellers.
The truth is that there is a very slim chance that you will encounter any of the dangerous Australian animals. There have only been 11 shark fatalities in Australia over the last 50 years. These tended to be by those who did not follow the basic rules. There have been no deaths from funnel web spiders over the same time period as there is now an anti-venom available. So, as long as you follow some practical advice you should not feel threatened or in danger when here in Australia.
So, lets meet some of these dangerous Australian animals.
The Great White Shark
Did you know that sharks have an extra sense? They can detect electromagnetic fields that are emitted by the movement of living animals. They are also huge. The great white shark can be as long as 6m and can weigh over 2,200kg. Clearly not something you would like to see whilst you are out swimming.
Swimming in the Australian ocean is fantastic and should be done as part of your Australian holiday. There are sharks in Australian waters but its rare that they come up to the shore line. You should avoid swimming at dusk and dawn when sharks are more active. Don’t go too far from the shore and stay away from schools of fish as a shark could mistake you for food! Also don’t go into the water if you have an open cut which is bleeding.
It’s true that over recent years there has been a slight increase in shark attacks although no-one has actually died. Experts can’t seem to agree why this may be but it is believed to be due to an algae that is now in our waters as well as the fact that our waters are getting cleaner. Both these factors could be bringing sharks further into our bays.
The funnel web spider
This handsome devil looks like a spider you might find in a joke shop. It’s black and fairly glossy. There is a species of this called the Sydney Funnel Web because it is found in and around Sydney. They like to create little burrows and could be found anywhere from garages, garden rockeries, or near swimming pools (they like water)
If you see any spider in Australia, it’s best to keep away. Most are in fact totally harmless but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If the funnel web is going to bite you, he’ll lift up onto his back legs and show you his fangs. Now would be a good time to run!
Sometimes the funnel web will give a dry bite i.e. no venom. So, only 25% of their bites contain venom. You’d feel pain pretty much straight away and you’d need to get yourself to hospital in case you need anti venom. There are ways to stop the venom from spreading through your blood stream, giving you more time to get to the hospital. These are detailed on the website (see bottom of this article)
Saltwater Crocodile
If I was going to worry about any of the dangerous Australian animals, it would probably be the saltwater crocodile. Again, the likelihood of meeting one is very low but there are on average, 2 reported deaths every year. These beasts hang out in the very north of Australia but can be seen as far down as Broome on the West and Tropical North Queensland on the East Coast. By following some simple precautions, you can reduce your chance of an encounter.
Their name is a little strange as they actually prefer to live in freshwater rivers and lakes. They can grow to a huge size, are very territorial and can be very ferocious.
If you see any NO SWIMMING signs in the top end of the country, usually with a picture of a crocodile on them, then don’t even think about going for a dip. Remember that if you go off the beaten track, the government may not have put signs up here so think twice about swimming there.
If you do decide to camp in this area, don’t camp too near to the waters edge and don’t wash etc at the same point near the water every day as one day you may have an unexpected guest!
There are 7 other dangerous Australian animals that you should know about. One of them can actually kill you in less than 3 minutes. Get to know what to do if you are bitten by a snake and useful tips to avoid an encounter with any of these nasties. Visit the Real Australia Travel website, details below.
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