Seeing native wildlife and birdlife is one of the many highlights of taking the Big Lap … but sometimes travellers find even friendly creatures can get a little too close for comfort.
Donkeys and goats, for example, can surprise some visitors – and campers – at the NT’s Daly Waters pub. The donkeys, which used to be part of a feral herd, are now very much used to making friends with grey nomads and other adventurers.
But it does sometimes seem that animals are getting increasingly ‘familiar’ with humans, with a variety of theory put forward as to what is going on.
A couple of years ago, for example, when Lumholzt’s tree kangaroos began wandering out of their natural rainforest habitat and into shops and businesses in and around Malanda in northern Queensland, environmental factors were blamed by some.
Emus can be quite an intimidating sight to some campers! PIC: Cizza
One theory was that drought had concentrated more toxins in the leaves the animals normally munched on which is affecting their sight … and behaviour.
And drought has certainly been identified as the reason that emus have become increasingly bold in recent years, wandering into country towns in big numbers in search of food. Towns like Nannup in WA and Peterborough in South Australia have previously found the giant flightless birds have become a regular part of local life.
Other bizarre interactions in recent years have included wild horses causing havoc at the Blue Waterholes camping grounds in Kosciuszko National Park; a tour guide being attacked by a water buffalo in the remote NT; a Warrnambool caravan park being invaded by 300 chooks which snuck under caravans, nestled in the bushes and marauded around the pool area; emus harassing people at the Parklands Conservation Park on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast; and even a runaway bull which sent campers scampering for cover as it rampaged through the showgrounds at Murray Bridge in South Australia.
And then, of course, there was ‘Swino’, the legendary feral pig famed for wreaking long-term havoc at a campsite at the De Grey River rest area in Westen Australia. Back in 2013, he regularly rifled through rubbish and campers’ possessions and, on one famous night, he drank 18 cans of beer. Swino was eventually run over by a passing truck.
Grey nomad Gwenda Cahill previously told the Grey Nomads about her close escape after being chased by wild pigs just south west of Katherine after she happened across an eagle road kill on the side of the road.
“Parking the vehicle some way off I walked back to take a look at the road kill and, suddenly, I heard loud squealing sounds close behind me,” she said. “Charging at a great rate of knots were two wild pigs, obviously keen to clean up the road kill they thought I was about to take from them … with ‘wind beneath my wings’ I bolted back to the safety of my vehicle just in time … phew!”
But it may not just be animal behaviour that explains what is going on.
A study by Spanish researcher Vincenzo Penteriani said the increasing frequency of animal encounters could partially explained by the fact that humans are spending more and more time enjoying the great outdoors … and not always safely.
“From an early age most of us learn social norms, rules, and how to decrease risks in urban environmental settings,” write the researchers. “But less effort is expended to teach us how to safely enjoy outdoor activities.”
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A couple of years back at Muttaburra Freedom Park we were warned about a rogue emu that would steal car keys if left exposed, sure enough the emu came in for a look, and wasn’t too fussed about our two Labradors going off at it
No. Having been a regular outdoor camper/bushwalker/attendee etc for many years, nothing surprises me more than my fellow human. I expect a certain behaviour from wild animals…usually this can be anticipated. But…my fellow human, especially those that rarely leave the safety of their residences…man, they can do some very unexpected things!
One of the great things about staying at Mary Kathleen camp is the free wandering cattle. Although not a wild animal they certainly mix with the campers. One dark night we heard some crunching and when we turned on a light there were two cows staring at us about a metre away. My wife said hello and got a lick on the face as a greeting. Kids love patting and tickling the cattle and the cattle also seem to enjoy it.