How to Survive Australia’s Deadliest Animals

5 min read

Welcome to Australia, the place where everything can kill you. While that may sound like a joke to everyone else, Australians know it is true. So, if you’re heading Down Under, what animals should you avoid? Whether you decide to stay on land or go into the ocean, Australia’s most deadly animals can get to you.

Most people think of kangaroos and koalas when they are planning their trips to Australia. However, this continent is home to some deadly animals. And no matter how many times you’ve seen the Crocodile Dundee film, you won’t be prepared to fight them off.

But luckily for you, that’s where our video comes in. We’ll answer questions you didn’t even know to ask. How could tweezers save your life? Which animal can drag you underwater? And how does one animal use grass to show aggression?

Which deadly animal do you fear the most?

Number 5: Redback Spiders

A close relative of the American black widow spider, the redback looks very similar. But it has a red stripe down its back. They live all over Australia including near humans, where there is more food, adequate shelter and it is warm for breeding.

Fortunately, these spiders rarely leave their webs. So unless your hand accidentally gets close to one, you are not likely to get bitten. But if it happens, the venom will act on your nerves and cause your body to release neurotransmitters, depleting your supply.

Apply an ice pack to the area to relieve some of the pain. And don’t cover it with a bandage, as the pressure will make the pain even worse. You should seek medical attention. And bring the spider to the hospital for identification, if you can.

Number 4: Saltwater crocodile

Some say this croc, the largest living crocodile, is the most likely to eat a human. The average size of a male is 454 kg (1,000 lb) and 5 m (17 ft) long. But they can reach 7 m (23 ft) and 998 kg (2,200 lb). They are opportunistic hunters that wait in shallow water for prey to come near.

Then they attack, grasp the victim and drag it underwater to drown. The best way to avoid an attack is to stay on land. If you decide to go for a swim, stay in a designated area. If you see a croc coming towards you, do not splash around or call attention to yourself.

If you need to defend yourself, aim for the eyes. Stephen Moreen shot a goose and went in the water to retrieve it. He came face-to-face with a crocodile. He poked the reptile’s eyes with his fingers, and the croc stopped its attack.

Number 3: Kangaroos

Kangaroos eat plants, although their diet often depends on their species. But they have very sharp, specialized teeth to cut grass and shrubs extremely close to the ground and to grind the vegetation. A kangaroo may not want to attack you. But if it does, you’ll be able to tell. It will begin to show dominance by pulling grass from the ground, rubbing its chest on the ground and tensing its muscles.

Number 2: Taipan Snake

They are most active in the early morning, and they usually take shelter during the day. Its venom includes neurotoxins and hemotoxins that destroy red blood cells. The neurotoxins affect your body control, so your speech could be slurred within an hour. The hemotoxins affect your blood’s clotting ability, which can cause internal bleeding and organ damage.

The only way to survive is to get medical treatment immediately since this snake’s bite is life-threatening.
Horses are immunized using the snake’s venom. Then their blood plasma is used to make the antivenom.

Number 1: Box Jellyfish

Box jellyfish mainly live in warm coastal waters, but the most lethal species is in northern Australia.
Scientists consider the Australian box jellyfish the most venomous marine animal. They range from the size of a thimble to a diameter of 2.4 m (8 ft) and some have tentacles that stretch more than 60 m (200 ft) long.

Each tentacle contains thousands of cnidoblasts or stinging cells. Go deeper and you’ll find nematocysts. They house a stinging thread, coiled and ready to launch. If you get stung, you should remove any tentacles you can see using fine tweezers. But do not rub them off, as this can release more venom.

Rinsing or soaking the site in hot water can reduce the burning sensation. Just remember to remove the tentacles first. What other dangers can await you when you travel? Do you know there’s a fish that looks like a rock, but it can produce a deadly sting?