So, if our land dwelling creatures don’t get you, (snakes, spiders, drop bears et al). And you manage to cross the tidal zone without dying (Stonefish, Blue-ringed octopus), and you manage to survive in the ocean long enough, (avoiding the sharks and the jellyfish) apparently the gentle giants of the sea have now decided they are missing out on the action, and a Southern Right Whale decided to try and crush a surfer. :eek:
Freaked my American relations right out, that did.
SMH said he (she?) was close enough in to be between the lap swimmers and the beach. Wow.
After all they’ve had to bear over the last couple of centuries, you’d figure the Right Whales would start to kick back a little.
Did you hear the one about the surfer yesterday who was bored half to death by a long shaggy dog story told by his friend from California who wanted to go to Sydney but accidentally ended up in Cardiff, and had to take a whole other flight halfway around the world to get to Bondi Beach?
Yeah, the surfer got hit with the Tale of the Right Wales.
They’ve got to have the most unfortunate name in the animal kingdom. Unless there’s a creature out there named “delicious and easy to prepare tarsier” or something.
But that’s the whole point - they got the name because they were the “right” whales to hunt, being suitably slow, defenceless, plump and resource-rich.
Incidentally, if I remember rightly “budgerigar” does come from the Aboriginal for “good food”.
Ha, I went to varsity with that guy.
Which is, I think, **Muldoonthief’s **point.
Muldoonthief appeared to think the name was an amusing coincidence, or perhaps that they were hunted because of the name, when, in fact, they were so named because they were good for hunting.
Wait, what the hell? What are they swimming laps of? The Tasman?
I know it’s terrible, but I can’t be the only one thinking “Gee, this would be much funnier if the surfer was a Japanese tourist.” 
Or if this had occurred on a Japanese beach.
No, I was quite aware of the etymology. That was my point - the only notable thing about them was what great prey they made for whalers.
As you can see from this photo, you can easily swim laps parallel to the beach but quite a way from shore.
Yeah, that.
After reading Bill Bryson’s book on the continent, I have vowed never to go near it. His premise is basically the place is one long land of things that will try to kill you. Apparently it’s true.
:eek:
Just Americans, really. And mostly that’s crocs that like sweet, sweet American flesh.
I naturalized so they wouldn’t eat me. True story, bro.
Well,if you’re called Ginger you can expect to be thought to be fairly tasty.
Really? When I was there back in '99, it was the Germans. Couldn’t go a day without hearing another story about a croc eating a German. Since all the signs are in the wrong language, apparently they think the warnings don’t apply to them. (The Germans, not the crocs.)
You fools! You bloody fools. You’re all so cautious around the crocs, you’re looking out for spiders, you’re stamping your feet to drive away snakes. Look at you, worrying about dingos, and cassowaries once you find out what they are. I see you, avoiding the surf for fear of sharks and jellyfish… when all the while, Australia’s most prolific killer in the animal kingdom is right under your saddle. Beware the lethal Australian horse!
And don’t think for one moment that the cow will help save you. She’s got the taste for blood too.
For a while there seemed to be a spate of American tourists getting eaten, to the point there was a joke going around when I was at school:
Q: How do you separate two fighting crocodiles?
A: Give 'em a yank.