Most birders are pretty responsible when it comes to dealing with crocodiles
and other threats, when they know about them. There is the odd one who
behaves recklessly or feels that the natural world should fit in with them
rather than the other way round. But mostly it's ignorance that springs
from people coming from a low-risk environment (crocodile-wise, that is).
To give an example a relative and I took Jonathon Franzen to a waterfall in
Arnhem Land. To our horror he squatted on the sand a few metres from the
water's edge. He'd obviously not noted the signs around Gunbalunya of the
"big hungry crocodile" lurking there. By sitting down he'd made himself
bite-size.
Una and I were only a short distance away from Jon, and we immediately
raced towards him, yelling at him to get up.
However, there are other threats at the Leanyer Sewage Ponds such as
mosquitoes (I caught Ross River there some years ago), and various organisms
in the soil and water eg cryptosporidium and giardia. So as a guide I warn
people about putting things on the ground there. I also carry alcohol hand
wash and ask people, to not touch their mouths, and to wash their hands well
on arriving home.
--
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow B.A. Grad.Dip.Arts
1/7 Songlark Street, Bakewell NT 0832, AUSTRALIA
Ph. 61 08 89 328306
Mobile: 04 386 50 835
Birdwatching and Indigenous tourism consultant
PhD Candidate (Southern Cross University, NSW)
Interpreter/transcriber, Lonely Planet Guide to Aboriginal Australia
Vice-chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia
http://www.denisegoodfellow.com.au
http://www.earthfoot.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baby-dreaming
www.fatbirder.com/
For copies of Birds of Australia¹s Top End or Quiet Snake Dreaming, visit
amazon.com
http://www.facebook.com/Wildlife.Tourism.Australia
http://wildlifetourism.org.au
"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him
to hold in higher regard those who think alike
than those who think differently."
(Nietzsche)
on 23/9/11 5:54 PM, Laurie Knight at wrote:
> G'day Colin,
>
> I guess there is a small chance that someone might come across one of
> those big snappy lizards at the STP, which I guess could cause a bit
> of trauma, particularly when they do their barrel-roll routine
> underwater ;)
>
> Regards, Laurie.
>
> On 23/09/2011, at 10:51 AM, Colin R wrote:
>
>> Has that ever happened i.e someone suffering severe injury - or
>> similar - in these circumstances? Sorry, I had to ask.....and
>> comment..
>>
>> With absolutely no reference to anyone else's comments,
>> observations or conclusions I have to say sometimes we all get a
>> bit precious about injury and the possible consequences. Most, if
>> not all, of the people I know would just get on with it and TAKE
>> RESPONSIBILITY for their own safety. Actually I don't think I
>> know one person who would pursue legal action in the type of
>> circumstances being described here.
>> I don't really want to prolong the argument/discussion but
>> sometimes I feel that repeated expressed 'dire consequences'
>> contribute to the overall perception that taking legal action is
>> a common and acceptable method of behaviour - and results in a
>> level of unnatural paranoia.
>>
>> I think we can all do with some sanity and preferably refrain
>> from worrying others unnecessarily or suggesting that this is a
>> regular or even probably occurrence, when, I believe, it is much
>> rarer than we think and probably dealt with accordingly by the
>> court and justice system.
>>
>> I know somebody will probably have an example of someone they
>> knew who blah bla blah... sorry, but, please, can we minimise the
>> expressions of portending disaster and realistically appraise
>> reality?
>>
>> Once again I am not targeting anyone's specific comments - simply
>> stating an opinion!
>>
>> Have a good weekend!
>>
>> PS: I'm off to Straddie tomorrow. Have to 'break into' the
>> headland as they have it fenced off to repair the path (which was
>> actually fine and it is in the middle of the whale migration - go
>> figure) - hope I don't trip and fall, don't know who I'd
>> sue.......
>>
>> Colin
>> (Partially tongue in cheek, but really hoping to make a point
>> without getting flamed)
>> --
>> Colin Reid
>>
>> So many birds, so little time......
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://www.fastmail.fm - Faster than the air-speed velocity of an
>> unladen european swallow
>>
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