Do people actually believe the thing about Australia's wildlife being dangerous?

[Zhukov]

Just curious.

It seems to be something of a running joke on the internet that Australia is loaded to the gunwales with deadly, hungry and/or poisonous creatures. At first I assumed it was just that, a joke. However, having heard it repeated so many times I'm no longer sure.

Truth is, it's really not so bad.

Yes, we have sharks, but so does nearly everywhere else with a coastline. Yes, there are crocodiles, but only in a few places and actual attacks are rare. Yes, there are some poisonous spiders, but they're rare and relatively shy. They won't bite unless you actively piss them off. Yes, there are some really big spiders (I get spiders-with-health-bars [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEmlgdAP0IM/Tx9T8JUpcHI/AAAAAAAACQE/BeprU8VhXpY/s1600/health%2Bbar%2Bspider.jpg] in my room if I leave the window open at night, found one in my boot a few months ago) but they don't bite. Hell, you can pick them up if you're game. Yes, a lot of the snakes are venomous enough to kill you, but they're very shy. They'll run away from you (well... slither away) if they can. The vast majority of bites occur when someone steps on one and cops a nip to the ankle. Yes, they are a few poisonous jellyfish, but they're rare.

Hell, where I come from the deadliest animal around is a species of humble ant (we call them 'jack-jumpers') and that's only because a fair few people are allergic to their bite.

So it's really just a myth. Just mind where you swim and watch where you put your feet and you'll be fine.

PS. Inb4 drop bears.

 

[IndomitableSam]

I'm happier here in Canada where wolves roam the outskirts of the city eating pets and deer rampage through cities destroying property and causing car wrecks. And rabid raccoons roaming the streets.

They scare me less than spiders. A hell of a lot less.

Winter is a good thing, I try to remind myself.

 

[DustyDrB]

I'm just ridiculously afraid of spiders, and seeing the ones you guys have... They might not actually bite me, but I may die of a heart attack at the sight of one.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Some of it is potentially dangerous I'm sure, but actively trying to murder you, as Cracked likes to pretend? No.

 

[Fappy]

I'm sure it's exaggerated, but you guys do have plenty of dangerous animals... but then, so do we.

 

[Bertylicious]

Of course we believe it, Zhukov, because it is true. Your very counter-statement is that there are only a few things that can kill you and that the giant spiders that you find in your shoes are actually quite docile.

That state of affairs is rather similar to throat cancer: not ideal.

 

[manic_depressive13]

You can pick up a huntsman? The ones in my house scarper the moment you get too close. I'm quite fond of them. I usually leave them alone unless they're in my room, in which case I carefully collect them in a container and take them outside.

 

[Dags90]

You're probably more likely to be killed or injured by a deer in the U.S. than any of our "scary" animals, I think the same happens in Australia with kangaroos.

 

[mechashiva77]

Like everyone else, I have a pathological fear of spiders, especially big ones. So, while I wouldn't be afraid to go to Australia, I will be extremely paranoid. I know not EVERYTHING is trying to kill you, I just take it as an extreme exaggeration that at the same time teaches me interesting things about Australia's wildlife. Kind of like the whole " 'MURICA " thing.

 

[Bertylicious]

You're probably more likely to be killed or injured by a deer in the U.S. than any of our "scary" animals, I think the same happens in Australia with kangaroos.

Kangaroos are fucking vicious, man. I heard that if you came face-to-face with one in the wild it'll kill you just to watch you die and that scientists have found that kangaroos are the only creatures apart from humans that are capable of spite.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

"Come to Australia, everything you've heard is an exaggeration! Yes, the spiders are giant, but you can handle them and they will only rarely bite you! Just don't leave your windows open or accidentally piss them off!".

If I didn't believe it was a hellhole before I certainly do now.

Spoiler: Just pick them up if you're game!

 

[M K Ultra]

PS. Inb4 drop bears.

I don't care, drop bears are the only thing keeping me out of Australia. Those eyes... watching... from the trees... always watching...

Yes, there are some poisonous spiders, but they're rare and relatively shy. They won't bite

OH DEAR GOD! Zhukov is one of those spiders that has learned to type to lure us to Australia!!

 

[Catfood220]

I understand that a lot of stuff about Australia is exaggerated for comic effect, surely if it was that bad, it would have the lowest population of any country in the world.

However you still have animals that want to eat me and snakes that can kill me with a bite. I'll stay here in England where its cold and miserable, but at least I the only wildlife I have to worry about is an annoyed pussy cat.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I'm happier here in Canada where wolves roam the outskirts of the city eating pets and deer rampage through cities destroying property and causing car wrecks. And rabid raccoons roaming the streets.

They scare me less than spiders. A hell of a lot less.

Winter is a good thing, I try to remind myself.

Hey now, those Raccoons are destructive, rabid or not. Still, despite our relative abundance of large wildlife, I still am amazed to see how many people gawk at seeing a moose on the highway.

 

[IamQ]

Anything anyone has is more dangerous than what we've got here in Sweden. Out most dangerous animal is the moose, and the only moose-related news I've heard recently, was a report half a year ago of a moose that had eaten a couple of fermented apples, gotten drunk, and then got stuck in a tree.

Spoiler

 

[Hagi]

I don't think it's so much that your wildlife is so extremely dangerous,

rather that a lot of other places don't really have any wildlife that can truly be considered dangerous at all.

We don't have snakes in the wild here. We don't have any spiders bigger than a coin in the wild. We don't have any lethally poisonous things at all beyond allergies.

Most people here never see anything beyond cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs and the occasional wild rabbit. That's their measurement of normal.

What you guys have in Australia is crazy compared to that.

 

[Esotera]

I hate snakes, and Australia has loads more of those than the UK, where only the Adder really poses any danger. I'm sure the heat in the more rural parts and the isolation is probably more of an issue.

 

[Ryotknife]

Just curious.

It seems to be something of a running joke on the internet that Australia is loaded to the gunwales with deadly, hungry and/or poisonous creatures. At first I assumed it was just that, a joke. However, having heard it repeated so many times I'm no longer sure.

Truth is, it's really not so bad.

Yes, we have sharks, but so does nearly everywhere else with a coastline. Yes, there are crocodiles, but only in a few places and actual attacks are rare. Yes, there are some poisonous spiders, but they're rare and relatively shy. They won't bite unless you actively piss them off. Yes, there are some really big spiders (I get spiders-with-health-bars [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEmlgdAP0IM/Tx9T8JUpcHI/AAAAAAAACQE/BeprU8VhXpY/s1600/health%2Bbar%2Bspider.jpg] in my room if I leave the window open at night, found one in my boot a few months ago) but they don't bite. Hell, you can pick them up if you're game. Yes, a lot of the snakes are venomous enough to kill you, but they're very shy. They'll run away from you (well... slither away) if they can. The vast majority of bites occur when someone steps on one and cops a nip to the ankle. Yes, they are a few poisonous jellyfish, but they're rare.

Hell, where I come from the deadliest animal around is a species of humble ant (we call them 'jack-jumpers') and that's only because a fair few people are allergic to their bite.

So it's really just a myth. Just mind where you swim and watch where you put your feet and you'll be fine.

PS. Inb4 drop bears.

okay....you are REALLY not helping your argument. Thanks to your post I now see the wildlife in Australia to be 10x worse than i thought it was.

The most dangerous animal I have are deer (who are only dangerous because they are stupid and charge at cars going...er...120kph). Thank god for winter.

 

[Asita]

Let's see, things in Australia that can rather famously kill you:

Sea Wasp Box Jellyfish: hard to see, hard to notice its sting, one of the most venomous organisms on the planet. Without treatment death can occur in less than 3 minutes.

Blue Ringed Octopus: One of the world's most venomous marine animals. No antivenom exists. Unless you get continous artificial respiration for more than a day after being bitten, you're pretty much dead.

Cone Snail: Highly venomous organism, no antivenom exists. Only treatment is to provide life support until the victim works the venom out of his/her system.

Stonefish: one of the most venomous fish in the world (anyone else noticing a trend here?) Thankfully antivenom does exist for this.

Snakes: The 10 most venomous snakes in the world[footnote]Eastern Brown Snake, Western Brown Snake, Mainland Tiger Snake, Fierce Snake, Coastal Taipan, King Brown Snake, Common Copperhead, Small-eyed Snake, Common Death Adder, Red Bellied Black Snake[/footnote] all live in Australia

Sydney Funnelweb Spider: Deadliest spider in the world and highly aggressive to boot. Antivenom exists and is very effective in treatment, but stocks of antivenom are supposedly running low.



And then, of course, there's the Drop Bears...(what? I like that joke )