The highly publicised death of a baby bison after a concerned American tourist tried to ‘save it’ has thrown a massive spotlight on the way in which humans interact with wildlife in national parks.
And the basic advice from authorities here in Australia is ‘don’t’ … both for your sake and for the wellbeing of the animals.
“Many Australian animals and birds look incredibly cute and cuddly and display endearing qualities that lure people into a false sense of security,” said a spokesperson for the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). “The fact is that ‘wildlife’ are, well … wild and, as a result, people should not directly interact with any wildlife.”
The spokesperson said it was is far better to admire creatures from a safe distance, take photos of them and appreciate them for the wild animals and birds they are, while understanding that their behaviours are unique to them and not to be interpreted as human like qualities
However, one dilemma that sometimes confronts travellers is knowing when – and if – to come to the assistance of animals that appear injured or sick.
Technology is starting to make a difference here. The IFAW Rescue App is a free mobile phone application – the first of its kind in Australia – which at the touch of a button can put people in direct contact with the nearest rescue organisation in NSW.
Failing that, in New South Wales at least, the advice to grey nomads who find an injured animal, mammal, bird or reptile in a national park is basically to contact the wildlife rescue service, WIRES, on 1300 094 737.
WIRES advises that most species of wildlife are not used to being handled and are very susceptible to stress.
If a traveller is unable to contact WIRES or an NSW National Parks representative, the advice is to take the animal or bird – assuming it is small and not potentially dangerous – to a local vet.
“People should not put themselves in a dangerous situation trying to rescue animals or birds,” said the NPWS spokesperson.
Another common time when grey nomads might come into direct contact with animals is when the likes of goannas, possums or dingoes are scavenging in campsites for food.
Campers are advised to store food and rubbish in secure containers and away from animals and to never feed them.
“When you feed native animals you’re giving them the equivalent of junk food, so instead of eating a wide range of natural foods, they depend on processed seeds, bread and other foods that are not part of their natural diet and this can make them very sick,” the NPWS said. “Animals that expect to be fed by people can become aggressive, harassing people for food.”
The spokesperson said that when kangaroos and wallabies become used to being hand-fed, they sometimes attack people in their quest for food … and they have sharp claws and a strong kick. Although kangaroos are mostly docile, they can also be unpredictable when they feel threatened.
Hand-fed birds are susceptible to illnesses that can be transferred to other birds, and they may lose the ability to forage for food so they starve when not fed by humans. Hand-fed birds can also take over, and when populations of some birds such as crimson rosellas increase, they displace other birds and mammals that shelter in tree hollows. When currawongs and ravens are hand-fed they breed up and prey on smaller birds, causing an imbalance in bird populations.
The advice for people who come across snakes is well known … let them be.
“If you come across a snake in the bush, just calmly walk the other way,” said the NPWS spokesperson. “Snakes are not naturally aggressive and always prefer to retreat. They will only attack humans if hurt or provoked – most bites occur when people try to kill or capture snakes.”
Of course, the wild animal that travellers tend to be most wary of coming into contact isn’t found in New South Wales. Recent incidents in which crocodiles have harassed people in boats in the north suggests that previously carelessly discarded fish bits has led some crocodiles to associate people with food.
While there are yellow warning signs at access points to waterways where estuarine crocodiles might live throughout north and central Queensland, the state’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) warns that estuarine crocodiles may be present, even if there are no warning signs.
“Although there have been recorded estuarine crocodile attacks on humans, statistics show that you are more likely to die from a lightning strike or bee sting than from a crocodile attack,” said an EHP spokesperson. “No natural waterway in crocodile country is ever 100% risk free, and the public should remain ‘croc-wise’ at all times when in and around crocodile habitat!”
