Not just the crocs, snakes and spiders.
 

Have a look at this story. Don't mess with the wildlife.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin

That's completely bizarre.

Yes they don't call it the Boxing Kangaroo for nothing!

Saw a couple of our locals going toe to toe a few weeks back - provided a very different picture to the usual one of lazy idyll - and yet some people still let their family dog off the leash when walking nearby. Wouldn't want to get in the way of those powerful forearms.

And report yesterday in Cairns Post of a wallaby beating up a toddler in a Cairns southern suburb.

Drowning a dog is all in a day's work for a threatened kangaroo.

Pat, the Cairns Post is a wonderful source of bizarre stories. No wonder Rupert Murdoch bought it.

Yes, Neil, we know. Can't find the link to story now, but there's been several wallaby attacks on kids in southern suburbs, due to habitat loss and encroaching suburbia. Here's a pic of the little girl. http://tools.cairns.com.au/photo_gal...=8795&offset=0

On the subject of local newspapers, saw a marvellous bit of subbing when in Sydney last week, The Manly Daily (which once ran a headline "Man Nearly Bitten by Funnel Web Spider"), reported that "four female girls were being interviewed by police in regard to home breakins on Collaroy Plateau".

Huge amounts of eras every wear! Sum body should learn them English!

Neil, in the north we have the great advantage that our parliamentarians provide so much humour. They are capable of doing it with a straight face too; such skill.

Saltuarius, when it comes to entertaining pols I have to agree - Queensland rules supreme! Who will ever forget Pat Field, not to mention Russ Hinze?

Pat, you've reminded me of the ABC radio newsreader of many years ago who was allegedly counselled (or maybe cancelled) after announcing that "a Sydney woman has been bitten on the funnel by a fingerweb spider".

Try describing Russ to a young person who only know about Kristy.

Oh dear god, farremog, do you remember Big Russ' claim that he wasn't visiting the 'working girls' in the Valley; even if he'd not been possessed of such strong virtue, he wouldn't have been able to climb the stairs!?

On kangaroos - we had a dog disembowelled by a big red in one of our tanks. He had gone in for a swim before the 'roo came down for a drink and as he went to get out, the 'roo set on him and killed him before we could get my Father and the gun. That guy in Victoria was very, very lucky.

Bokhara - that Big Russ story would have done nicely, but I'd prefer not to think about him any more thanks.

I'm surprised the wallabies are in on the act, next it will be ankle-biting by wombats and eye gouging from koalas!

Nah, Susan. That would require a bit too much activity on the part of the koalas. The best that they could manage would be to piddle people to death.

LOL, kiwi-rob! You are right, far too energetic.

Call me ignornant, but why would a kangaroo attack a dog in the first place?

It seems I also can't spell.

"why would a kangaroo attack a dog in the first place?"

Mel, kangaroos have had to deal with two major predators from about 40,000 years ago - dogs and humans, often working together. This kangaroo was faced with what he saw as a double whammy and reacted appropriately.

Male 'roos shouldn't be underestimated - they can disembowel not only dogs but humans, and one of their traditional defence mechanisms is to leap into water and, if any dogs are foolish enough to follow, grab them between their front legs and hold them under the water until they drown.

A couple of years ago I was walking my son's dog, which is actually part-dingo, in bushland behind the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, when we came across a huge 'roo blocking the track. I didn't need to tell the dog what to do - she took off like a shot. In the other direction. Closely followed by me.

I'm reminded of a press conference in the Continental Hotel in Saigon in the early '70s, where a US Army PR hack announced to the assembled Reptiles of the Press "Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's fair to say that we now have the Viet Cong on the run". A weary voice responded "Yes, I think we can agree on that, Major ... but in which direction?"

(OK, off-topic but a good story.)

"Male 'roos shouldn't be underestimated"

Maybe I was being sexist there, not sure - I have the impression that defence is a male prerogative in roo-land but I'm open to correction.

Wow, I had no idea. I guess I'll have to add 'roos to my list of Australian creatures to avoid.