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.
Examining the facts clearly shows that you have nothing to worry about in terms of meeting a dangerous Australian animal. Did you know that there have only been 11 shark deaths over the last 50 years? Media hype would make you expect more. In the same time period, there have been NO deaths caused by the Funnel Web Spider due to the availability of anti-venom
Lets have a look at some of the 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.
Don't be put off going for a swim as this is an important past-time that you should do as part of your Australian holiday. It's true that there are sharks in Australian waters but its rare that they come up into the bays where there are swimmers. There are some precautions that you should take though. Don't swim at dusk or dawn as this is when sharks tend to be out feeding. Stay away from schools of fish and don't venture too far out. Don't swim if you have an open cut that is bleeding.
There have been a few more shark attacks in the last few years and experts are still trying to work out why. Some believe its due to an algae that is now present in the water. Others believe it is due to our waters being cleaner which is bringing sharks further into our bays.
The funnel web spider
You could be fooled by thinking someone is playing a practical joke on you. These spiders look like a spider that you might buy from a joke shop. It's black and can be very glossy. The funnel web spider likes to create little burrows so you are more likely to find them in garden rockeries but they are also found in garages. They like water too so are sometimes found around swimming pools. There is a species called the Sydney Funnel Web which is found in and around Sydney.
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
There are in fact 2 reported deaths from crocodiles every year. That makes them the most dangerous animal in Australia from a statistics point of view. They are found in the very north of Australia but can be seen as far down as Broome to the west and Tropical Queensland in the East. It's easy to avoid an encounter with a croc by following some simple rules.
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.
Best way to avoid them is to obey any NO SWIMMING signs in the top end and the far north Queensland areas. The signs usually have a crocodile on them to warn you. If you go off the beaten track, don't risk going for a swim in this area as they may have just not put a sign up and there could still be crocodiles about.
Don't camp too near the waters edge and vary your washing habits. That means, don't go to the same spot every day, otherwise a crocodile could be waiting for you one morning!
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.
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.
Examining the facts clearly shows that you have nothing to worry about in terms of meeting a dangerous Australian animal. Did you know that there have only been 11 shark deaths over the last 50 years? Media hype would make you expect more. In the same time period, there have been NO deaths caused by the Funnel Web Spider due to the availability of anti-venom
Lets have a look at some of the 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.
Don't be put off going for a swim as this is an important past-time that you should do as part of your Australian holiday. It's true that there are sharks in Australian waters but its rare that they come up into the bays where there are swimmers. There are some precautions that you should take though. Don't swim at dusk or dawn as this is when sharks tend to be out feeding. Stay away from schools of fish and don't venture too far out. Don't swim if you have an open cut that is bleeding.
There have been a few more shark attacks in the last few years and experts are still trying to work out why. Some believe its due to an algae that is now present in the water. Others believe it is due to our waters being cleaner which is bringing sharks further into our bays.
The funnel web spider
You could be fooled by thinking someone is playing a practical joke on you. These spiders look like a spider that you might buy from a joke shop. It's black and can be very glossy. The funnel web spider likes to create little burrows so you are more likely to find them in garden rockeries but they are also found in garages. They like water too so are sometimes found around swimming pools. There is a species called the Sydney Funnel Web which is found in and around Sydney.
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
There are in fact 2 reported deaths from crocodiles every year. That makes them the most dangerous animal in Australia from a statistics point of view. They are found in the very north of Australia but can be seen as far down as Broome to the west and Tropical Queensland in the East. It's easy to avoid an encounter with a croc by following some simple rules.
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.
Best way to avoid them is to obey any NO SWIMMING signs in the top end and the far north Queensland areas. The signs usually have a crocodile on them to warn you. If you go off the beaten track, don't risk going for a swim in this area as they may have just not put a sign up and there could still be crocodiles about.
Don't camp too near the waters edge and vary your washing habits. That means, don't go to the same spot every day, otherwise a crocodile could be waiting for you one morning!
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.
About the Author:
Jennifer Schellington has nearly 5 years of experience in travelling Australia and has recently become a new Mum. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com offers practical information for planning your trip to Australia as well as what to do and where to go. Click here for more details on the 10 most dangerous Australian animals
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