The terrifying antics of a rogue bull near Cooktown in northern Queensland have brought back memories of the day a year ago when a similarly out of control bull rampaged through a campground near Borroloola.
Last July, grey nomads and other campers were forced to flee the charging beast, with some travellers even climbing trees to escape. That incident at the McArthur River campground, about 700 kilometres from Darwin, ended when the bull was shot by Northern Territory police as it attacked their vehicle.
“It was a bit of a danger to people at the caravan park,” Duty Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said at the time. “I know there were 50 people at the park at this time.”
In the latest aggressive bull incident 35 kilometres south of Cooktown, Cook Shire Council has issued its first ever seize-and-destroy order for a feral bovine.
Orchard owner, Maria Basten, told the Cairns Post that she suffered cuts and severe bruising when the bull charged her as she tried to harvest lemons.
“He trampled me and he got me with its just-budding horns,” she said. “Thankfully they’re not big yet.”
A number of other people have also been attacked by the same bull.
Ashley Robbins, the council’s development, environment and community services senior local laws officer, said he had never seen a bull behave so aggressively.
Mr Robbins told the Cairns Post the bull would be euthanised as it was a danger to humans.
“Due to growth and undergrowth, we can’t muster it out,” he said. “You don’t want to get too close to this thing, because it’s just that wild.”
Of course, this is not the first time campers have faced a threat from an unexpected source. Back in 2013, Swino the partying pig famously caused mayhem at the De Grey River campsite in WA before his untimely demise.
* Have you ever faced an unexpected ‘threat’ while camping? What animals make you the most nervous when you’re out in the ‘wilds’? Comment below.
