Animal Hazards in Queensland
All creatures you see should be treated with respect - the important point to for the budget travel
visitor to remember is that most animals prefer to run away and usually will only attack if they feel
there is no other option. Most animals are looking for food, and they don't regard humans as very
edible. So from a backpacking point of view, make sure you leave the animal plenty of escape options.
Crocodiles
If you are camping in the north of Australia treat crocodiles with enormous respect - they are the
only animal (well, maybe sharks too) in Queensland that will deliberately attack you. Budget Travel
campers in the North should collect all possible travel information as well as plenty of local
advice before camping - if in doubt just don't camp anywhere near water.
Dingos
The Dingo is a primitive dog (not a wolf) believed to have inhabited Australia for possibly 10,000
years. They are normally coloured yellow to brown with white feet and weighing about 15kgs. They
seldom bark, but they do have a characteristic melodious howling, often done in groups. They are
predominantly carnivorous but will eat a wide variety of foods and will scavenge in campsites.
Snakes
Travel information seems to paint snakes as very dangerous animals from the backpacker point of view.
Yes, Australia has several of the most venemous snakes in the world - and each year there are one or
two fatalaties - but do you know how many people die from road accidents?
It pays to keep things in perspective - the chances of a budget travel visitor being bitten by a snake
are very, very small, and with common sense you can make it even smaller.
For instance the Small Scaled Snake has the most potent venom of any snake in the world - forget
about the Cobra or the Mamba - but the habitat of this interesting snake is the relatively
unpopulated areas of south-western Queensland into the Simpson desert. So in practise very few
people even see this snake and none get bitten.
The Brown Snake and the Taipan are common in rural Queensland, and they are regarded as very dangerous -
the Taipan in particular can move remarkably quickly - but again, the point is they will only attack if
cornered.
So if you do happen on a snake while backpacking, don't stop to try to identify it - they all
look sort of brown, and identification is a specialist job - just make a hasty retreat.
The trick is don't corner them - don't attack them - definitely don't try to pick them up, even if
they look dead - just leave them alone and they will leave you alone.
