Planning a trip to Australia? Feeling worried about the high number of dangerous Australian animals? Don't be. The chance of meeting one is EXTREMELY slim. This article intends to fill you in on some of those animals and put your mind at ease that you really won't bump into any of them.
Australia has at least 10 animals that could kill you. That's well over its fair share! There is one that can even kill you in less than 3 minutes. They range greatly in size too from the very large (Great White Shark,) to the very small, (Funnel Web Spider.) Many people have heard of these two nasty creatures.
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.
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.
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.
To be safe, it's best to keep away from all spiders in Australia. They are probably harmless but its better to be safe than sorry. If the funnel web spider is about to bite, it raises up on its back legs to show you his fangs. At that point, I'd start running!
If you are unlucky enough to be bitten, there is still only a 25% chance that the bite contained venom. If it did, the pain will hit you instantly. You need to get to the hospital as soon as possible to get anti venom. The key is to stop the venom from spreading around your body. There are ways to do this and these are detailed on the website (see below for more details.)
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.
These crocodiles don't actually live in salt water and prefer to cruise around in freshwater lakes and rivers. They are very large and can be very ferocious. They are extremely territorial.
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.
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 more dangerous Australian animals and one of them could kill you in 3 minutes. You should also learn what to do if you were bitten by a snake. For more information go to the Real Australia Travel website, details below.
Australia has at least 10 animals that could kill you. That's well over its fair share! There is one that can even kill you in less than 3 minutes. They range greatly in size too from the very large (Great White Shark,) to the very small, (Funnel Web Spider.) Many people have heard of these two nasty creatures.
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.
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.
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.
To be safe, it's best to keep away from all spiders in Australia. They are probably harmless but its better to be safe than sorry. If the funnel web spider is about to bite, it raises up on its back legs to show you his fangs. At that point, I'd start running!
If you are unlucky enough to be bitten, there is still only a 25% chance that the bite contained venom. If it did, the pain will hit you instantly. You need to get to the hospital as soon as possible to get anti venom. The key is to stop the venom from spreading around your body. There are ways to do this and these are detailed on the website (see below for more details.)
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.
These crocodiles don't actually live in salt water and prefer to cruise around in freshwater lakes and rivers. They are very large and can be very ferocious. They are extremely territorial.
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.
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 more dangerous Australian animals and one of them could kill you in 3 minutes. You should also learn what to do if you were bitten by a snake. For more information go to the Real Australia Travel website, details below.
About the Author:
Jennifer Schellington has nearly half a decade of experience in traveling Australia and has recently become a new Mum. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com offers useful information for planning your trip to Australia as well as where to go and what to do. Click here for more details on the 10 most dangerous Australian animals
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