Big Red Tour: Dangerous animals in the Australian Outback.

B I G R E D T O U R

Dangerous animals in the Australian Outback

WHERE TO GO

ANIMALS ON THE ROAD
Various animals will block your way. If you hit something, make sure it's dead when you continue to drive. I killed an innumerable amount of lizards and birds and one black snake.
   Wedge Tailed Eagles: Wedge Tailed Eagles are big birds of prey. You'll se a lot of them feeding on road kill. They are very slow to take off, so slow down as you approach them.
   Crows: Crows take off as you approach them. No need to worry.
   Galahs: Galahs (grey and pink parrots) are birds that flock around roads. You might hit one or two of these animals. A Landcruiser does not even notice when you smash one of them.
   Cattle: Cattle are not the most intelligent animals on Earth. They will stand looking at you, then start walking towards you, and then turn and get out of the way. Always slow down when you see cattle.
  We hit a young heifer when I was out with station people and we drove during dark. Killing the poor beast was no fun and it left a slightly twisted door on the station guys' Landcruiser.
   Sheep: Sheep are even more stupid than cattle. Slow down and wait until they get out of the way.

  Kangaroos: If a skippy gets in front of the car, they will jump in terror for a kilometre until they get into their head to get off the road. Road trains kill them en masse. Watch out if you're driving around sunrise or sunset.
   Emus: Emus can compete with sheep when it comes to low intelligence. They often run over the road in front of the car. The later they wait, the more content with themselves, they seem to be. Sometimes these mongrel animals turn and come running back over the road again.
   Camels: Camels cross the road in a tranquil speed and seems not to be concerned with the coming and going of cars. Slow down if you see one.
   Small animals: A lot of small reptiles like lizards, snakes, goannas and turtles love to bask on the warmth of bitumen roads. Hitting them is a pity but not a danger, with the exception of snakes who might curl up around the diffs and be mighty pissed off the next time you do your under vehicle check.

Yourself, the biggest danger of them all

Fidelity in the bush

Rough road

Cattle on the road

Saltwater crocodile

SALTWATER CROCODILES
There are two types of crocodiles in Australia. The smaller Freshwater or Johnstone crocodile is harmless for humans. You recognise it by its long snout.
The bigger saltwater or estuarine crocodile is a ferocious and aggressive hunter. The biggest males can become over 8 metres long. Estuarine crocodiles (salties) can be found in the sea, in rivers and in waters all over northern Australia. Salties lie waiting beneath the water along e.g. riverbanks and wait for animals to come and drink. Then they launch their attack, grab the victim with their powerful jaws, and do a death roll to break the neck of the victim and then swims away to have lunch. It's an awesome sight to see it happen. Let's put it this way, you wouldn't want to trade places with a croc's lunch.
Salties are cunning hunters. If you camp along a river, they can observe you for two days and lie waiting for you the third day when you go down to the river to fetch water. In dark, murky waters, they are impossible to spot.

Camp well away from water where crocodiles can be found
Don't swim in water where crocodiles can be found
Don't get water from rivers and lakes where crocodiles can be found
Don't let children and dogs play along or in water where crocodiles can be found

FERAL PIGS
Feral pigs can be extremely aggressive if they feel cornered or if you go in between them and their offspring. They might charge you and rip you up with their big fangs. If they do, climb the nearest tree. If there is no tree? Well, honestly I do not know what to do.

THE SNAKES (AT LAST)
Australia has some of the most venomous snakes in the world. They are usually more afraid of you than you are of them. You'll be lucky to see one. Mostly they escape if something big and heavy like you approach them. Most accidents happen either if someone steps right on them or try to attack or kill them. If you meet a snake in the bush, stop, back away slowly from it. Don't attack it or try to scare it by beating in the ground with a stick or something similarly stupid.