We spent the last couple of days in Daintree National Park, which is a protected part of Australia's rainforest. The rainforest, home t many primitive flowering plants, is thought to be the evolutionary cradle for much of Australia’s unique wildlife. It is home to 30% of Australia’s marsupial and reptile species, 65% of the bat and butterfly species, and 20% of the bird species. I found this little tidbit interesting: the Amazon rainforest is 7-10 million years old, while the Daintree rainforest is between 150-200 million years old! It is a living museum of primitive plants and a window to how the world once was. Twelve of the world’s 19 primitive plant families are found here. The area’s annual rainfall can be as much as 180 inches (that’s 15 feet!).
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| Daron's Tarzan impersonation! |
Over 1,000 freehold properties were created in the Daintree area in the 1980s (the government has since been trying to buy them back), so as we were driving through the park there were businesses all throughout (ice cream, restaurants, hotels, etc). It definitely did not feel like a national park. We did all of the nature trails, walked on the beach, and checked out Cape Tribulation, named by Captain Cook when his ship ran aground there. It is so dark in the forest, even when the sun is shining up above – and the vines are astounding, various kinds winding all over the place. The giant ferns look prehistoric - I feel like we’re in Land of the Lost, about to see a dinosaur any minute!
Speaking of dinosaurs (or birds that look like dinosaurs!), we were lucky enough to see a Cassowary, which is the world’s most dangerous bird (not a surprise for Australia!). They are large like an emu, but slow moving, and have a spike on each of their feet. If threatened, they will attack with both feet and slash you with their spikes. They are very important to the rainforest because they are the only animal capable of dispersing the seeds of more than 70 species of trees whose fruits are too large for other animals to digest and pass. In fact, it is thought that if the Cassowary disappears, those 70 species of trees will also disappear. It is an endangered species with less than 1,000 left. A male Cassowary slowly crossed the road in front of our car with its baby chick. That’s right, the males incubate the eggs and raise the chicks!
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| Daron and a Cassowary exhibit |
Speaking of dinosaurs (or birds that look like dinosaurs!), we were lucky enough to see a Cassowary, which is the world’s most dangerous bird (not a surprise for Australia!). They are large like an emu, but slow moving, and have a spike on each of their feet. If threatened, they will attack with both feet and slash you with their spikes. They are very important to the rainforest because they are the only animal capable of dispersing the seeds of more than 70 species of trees whose fruits are too large for other animals to digest and pass. In fact, it is thought that if the Cassowary disappears, those 70 species of trees will also disappear. It is an endangered species with less than 1,000 left. A male Cassowary slowly crossed the road in front of our car with its baby chick. That’s right, the males incubate the eggs and raise the chicks!
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| Not a sign you like to see at the beach! |
The warm tropical climate makes a person want to jump in the water here, but alas, there will be no swimming for us (unless it’s in the pool)! There are warnings all over regarding salties (crocodiles) and stingers (jellyfish). Salties can be found in the freshwater rivers and also in the ocean close to shore. Stinger season just started – the enclosure nets are already up on certain beaches, so people can swim in small areas. There are more than one type of jellyfish here, and the most deadly one (the box jellyfish) is tiny. All the signs say to swim at your own risk and that there’s no guarantee that the jellyfish won’t get through the nets. We won’t be taking that chance – the pool is fine for us!
The stuff about the alligators and other dangerous animals would freak me out if i thought about it. I feel like I am part of a hystory class. I could pull this up when teaching my students. I think they would find it interesting. Be safe, Love Troy and family.
ReplyDeleteHi Teacher Troy,
ReplyDeleteThe salties are nothing to be messed with, that's for sure! We visited a crocodile park recently and were in awe of them by the time we left. They are hunting machines, with thousands of years of evolution on their side. Scary!
We love hearing from you!
Love,
Beth & Daron