# Seriously, are you reluctant to come to Australia because of dangerous wildlife? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612 "2010-01-04T13:34:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/101 "2010-01-13T01:51:51Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [National Geographic | National Geographic](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/09/0912_050912_alligators.html) Since 1948 only 18 people have been killed by alligators. That isn’t even a good weekend for crocs. Though rumors say after the new Orleans hurricane they were munching the bodies floating around. [Crocodile attacks in Australia (Wikipedia)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_attacks_in_Australia) [QUOTE=Wikipedia] There are, on average, no more than one or two fatal attacks reported per year in the country. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Wikipedia] Between 1971 and 2004 there were 62 crocodile attacks recorded, 17 of which were fatal. 39 of the attacks were in the Northern Territory (10 fatal), 15 in Queensland (5 fatal) and 8 in Western Australia (2 fatal). [/QUOTE] Let’s stop spreading stupid misinformation. Crocodile attacks are rare in Australia, and only occur in the three states that span the top of the country. 62 attacks over nearly 40 years in a country with a population of over 21 million. That’s not exactly what you’d call statistically significant. There have been no deaths from spider bite since 1979. There are 2-4 deaths per year from snake bite in Australia. There are 12 or fewer deaths from snake bite per year in the US. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/102 "2010-01-13T01:53:44Z")
Can I say that there is no way that I will visit Australia until all those uncouth, uncultured, rude and altogether too good at sport Australians are safely spayed, neutered and locked up in zoos for us to observe from a safe distance? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/103 "2010-01-13T02:03:37Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > You could go to Sydney. I saw two salties there. One was at the aquarium, the other was at [Featherdale Wildlife Park](http://www.featherdale.com.au/index.htm). They were fascinating, and could not get me. There are no wild salties within 1000 km of Sydney, AFAIK. Yeah I suppose if I stay near the cities and don’t venture out into the wild I’ll be okay. I know, rationally, that only a couple people a year die from crocodile attacks, and all my fears in this thread have been expressed half jokingly. I know I’m much more likely to get into a traffic accident in Seoul than be eaten by a crocodile in Australia. But in all seriousness, there’s something so primitive about the possibility of being eaten by a croc that freaks me out more than the idea of getting knocked off my boyfriend’s motorbike. Fears notwithstanding, I probably will visit Australia sometime in the next decade or so. Everyone I know who’s been there has raved about it. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/104 "2010-01-13T16:20:56Z")
I’d certainly like to visit Australia, my main issue being the plane ride rather than the wildlife, but I did get a kick out of [this article](http://www.cracked.com/funny-163-australia/) today. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/105 "2010-01-13T20:05:38Z")
Just to add to the fear and loathing, a few days ago, a little girl had been collecting sea-shells on the beach where her family were enjoying the summer holidays. She gathered up her salty treasures and was washing them in the bathtub at home when out dropped a blue-ringed octopus. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ringed\_octopus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ringed_octopus) At least it will take your average croc a few minutes to kill you. This little blighter will have you gurgling in 30 seconds. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/106 "2010-01-15T01:21:19Z")
I answered that I might go, and that the critters don’t bother me. The real problem is the [plant life](http://asylumeclectica.com/asylum/morbid/archives/morb1209.htm)! > [@](#): > > The diminutive stinging tree has been called the most feared tree in Australia. It reaches about seven feet in height and produces tempting clusters of red fruit that resemble raspberries. Every inch is covered with fine silicon hairs that resemble peach fuzz and contain a virulent neurotoxin. Simply brushing up against the plant results in unbearable pain that may last up to a year. In some cases, the shock of the pain can be so great that it brings on a heart attack. > > The hairs themselves are so tiny that they easily penetrate the skin and are almost impossible to pull out. The silicon does not break down in the bloodstream, and the toxin itself is surprisingly strong and stable. In fact, it remains active even in old, dry specimens of the plant. The pain can be reactivated for months afterward by extreme hot or cold, or simply by touching the skin. Even walking through the forest where stinging trees are present can pose a threat. The tree sheds its fine hairs constantly, and passersby run the risk of inhaling them or getting them in the eyes. > > A soldier remembers being stung by the tree during his training in 1941. He fell right into the plant, coming into full body contact with it. He was tied to his hospital bed for three weeks in pure agony. Another officer was stung so badly that he committed suicide to get away from the pain. Humans are not the only ones affected–newspaper accounts from the nineteenth century include reports of horses dying from the sting. Anyone walking through the Australian rain forest would be well advised to keep an eye out for this plant. It can easily penetrate most kinds of protective clothing. A common treatment is the application of a hair removal wax strip, which will pull out the plant’s fine hairs along with your own. Experts recommend a shot of whisky before attempting this treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/107 "2010-01-15T02:59:50Z")
That article is not a masterpiece of accuracy. Stinging trees reach full rainforest canopy height which is a hellava lot more than seven feet. When they are that big they aren’t a problem as the leaves are too high up to bother you. The small ones are the problem. They are an opportunistic plant that grows up very quickly when there is a break in the canopy caused by something else falling down. With experience, you know that it is when you come across a break in the canopy that you have to watch out. I’ve walked under and around plenty of stinging trees and I wonder about the accuracy of the “risk of inhaling them or getting them in the eyes” thing as I’ve never had a problem, nor heard of anyone doing so. They do hurt like hell though. I brushed a stinging tree leaf very lightly with the edge of my ear once and it was one of the most painful things I’ve ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/108 "2010-01-15T04:37:03Z")
I _have_ visited Australia, and New Zealand to boot, and I’d go back in a shot. Loved them both. But the 20-hour plane trip was torture - I never knew my ass could fall asleep. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/109 "2010-01-15T04:44:58Z")
> [@slowmovingvehicle](#): > > I _have_ visited Australia, and New Zealand to boot, and I’d go back in a shot. Loved them both. But the 20-hour plane trip was torture - I never knew my ass could fall asleep. Really. It’s interesting how people in the US say “The flight to get there is too long!”, whereas people in Australia/NZ just accept that it’s a 10 hour+ flight to anywhere of interest and deal with it. I mean, it’s a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to London but I don’t hear people saying “I’m not going to the UK; it’s too far away!”, although those same people will say they don’t want to go to Australia because… it’s a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/110 "2010-01-15T04:51:51Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > It’s interesting how people in the US say “The flight to get there is too long!”, whereas people in Australia/NZ just accept that it’s a 10 hour+ flight to anywhere of interest and deal with it. > > I mean, it’s a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to London but I don’t hear people saying “I’m not going to the UK; it’s too far away!”, although those same people will say they don’t want to go to Australia because… it’s a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles. 😛 I didn’t say that I wouldn’t go back because of the flight - just that the flight was long and uncomfortable. And while my flight was “only” fourteen hours from L.A., it took me another six to get to L.A. from my home in Atlanta. For that matter, my nine-hour flight to London was a literal pain in the ass, as well. Didn’t stop me from going. As I said, if I had the bucks, I’d be back in Sydney in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/111 "2010-01-15T06:33:33Z")
> [@slowmovingvehicle](#): > > I didn’t say that I wouldn’t go back because of the flight - just that the flight was long and uncomfortable. And while my flight was “only” fourteen hours from L.A., it took me another six to get to L.A. from my home in Atlanta. For that matter, my nine-hour flight to London was a literal pain in the ass, as well. Didn’t stop me from going. > > As I said, if I had the bucks, I’d be back in Sydney in a heartbeat. I wasn’t singling you out in particular- just using your post as an example of people saying “But It’s So Far Away!”, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/112 "2010-01-15T19:40:10Z")
I wouldn’t go to Aus because culturally it doesn’t interest me at all. From my perspective it has very little to offer. I might be being unfair though; a friend said the west coast, in particular Perth, was pretty awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/113 "2010-01-16T02:03:21Z")
Culturally, Perth is pretty uninteresting. The surrounding country is great. I live in Perth. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612/114 "2010-01-16T02:16:16Z")
> [@alexandra](#): > > I wouldn’t go to Aus because culturally it doesn’t interest me at all. From my perspective it has very little to offer. That is, I think, a valid criticism. Australian culture is generally similar enough to US or British culture to be a bit… disappointing to the international visitor from those countries. The scenery in Australia is great, though, as **Cicero** rightly observes. But there’s not likely to be much culturally in somewhere like Sydney to appeal to someone from, say, San Diego. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-are-you-reluctant-to-come-to-australia-because-of-dangerous-wildlife/523612.md?page=5)