From what I understand Richard, it’s actually quite rare…! Also, they seem pretty well prepared with a lot of anti-venoms….
I’m sure Pete, Bevo etc will know more….
Yes, there are spiders and snakes et al…But a lot is kind of overblown a bit outside of Australia……
I’ve lived here 13+ years and….never seen a snake! Seriously. And I’m living in the hills on the outskirts of the city……Actually saw more snakes when living in Thailand……
In all my trips to Australia I never encountered or even saw anything potentially deadly. In fact at one point during my second visit for Naim I mentioned to Harry and Norman that I was a bit disappointed I hadn’t yet even seen a Kangaroo or a Koala - my notion had been that, like the deadly fauna, they would be everywhere! On my last day in Sydney good old Norman said he had a surprise for me that afternoon - a trip to the Kangaroo and Koala sanctuary! Brilliant!
Damn things jump out from the side of the road, dusk being a particular favourite time when their grey colour makes them almost invisible…! My first experience of that years back, was just after I’d picked up our then new CooperS…driving back all happy with myself, about 2km from home and a Roo jumps out – I actually didn’t see it initially, it was my wife (must be the Aussie training!)….fortunately she did, as if I’d braked a second or so later it would have been through the windscreen …!
They taste not bad also…!
Talking of which, they say Australia is the only country that legally kills an animal(s) that feature on the national Coat of Arms….
I did eat some kangaroo while up in Queensland with Stolly. I was curious but in no rush to repeat the experiment. Kangaroos are much nicer when bouncing or lazing around.
It was clay, they give you a choice of 4 colours that you roll into balls. The artist comes back in each evening and rolls them into the centre. It’s just a bit of fun, kids loved it.
There has been a death from a funnel web spider for probably 40 years I think, the last one I can remember was back in the 80s. They have a very good anti venom that’s developed by milking (venom) from spiders.
The biggest issue they had was making the little stools to sit on while doing the milking.
We see lots of snakes which generally are fine if left alone although the brown ones are extremely dangerous and manage to kill every now and then.
They were almost hunted to extinction but were made a protected species in the 70s, since then their numbers have exploded. They also are responsible for a few deaths a year.
Gazza it’s not all that bad, if you came at the right time of year you’ll be fine. Like most countries it’s the 2 legged species that are the most dangerous.
I once did Hong Kong flight……with Cathay Pacific……pretty good. We were then the first package visitors to China……food was good. But when we got back to Hong Kong was desperate for Steak and chips with salad. That was the end of that holiday……spent the rest on the loo, in hotel and a 13 hour flight.
I am a wimp😁