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| My Tarzan man taking a dip in the jungle! |
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| Silky Oaks Lodge |
My party boarded a canvas-topped motor launch, navigated by
an expert guide whose family was deeply engaged in local conservation. His
knowledge and passion for the animals and plants of the river was totally
absorbing, and the one hour trip passed all too quickly.
This man was completely at home on the river, and at ease with the nearby crocodiles whom he recognised and referred to by deceptively affectionate names. He pointed out crocodiles of various ages -a baby one sunning itself, away from its mother, instinctively trying to hide from predators by becoming part of the tree branch – only 2% to 3% survive to adult hood, despite an adult female laying 50 to 60 eggs per batch. We drifted close to the river’s banks, floating silently through bizarre mangroves whose roots and branches emerged from the waters like bony fingers. In the apparent stillness, forest kingfishers and iridescent blue Ulysses butterflies flitted; white cranes waited, poised for attack; white egrets, herons, snakes, tree frogs, lizards, were spotted near the water line, whilst kites and other birds of prey hovered above the canopy. The Australian tropical rainforest dates back over 135 million years, is home to 66 animal species, 50% of the continent’s birds, butterflies and bats, and the highest concentration of primitive plant families on planet earth, including 700 plants that are found nowhere else in the world. I am reminded that scientists are still finding new medicines and uses for these plants of course. I recognised several plants thriving in the wild, from my own Orangery back home,– orchids, monstera, yuccas, stag’s horn fern, and palms. Thankfully, this tropical haven – this wonderful example of tropical rainforest that are ‘the lungs of the planet’, is now protected and classified as a World Heritage Area.
Thank you Australia on behalf of us all, for preserving this precious home to so many fascinating species!
Before I got back to my temporary home of the beautiful Mantra
Portsea resort, with its access to the idyllic beautiful 4-mile palm-fringed white sand
beach (think… ‘Bounty, the taste of
paradise’ advert!) the return journey included 2 further treats – a brief
stop at a Queensland fruit farm, to sample several exotic tropical fruits, with
weird names such as sour sop, paw-paw, canistel, and the evil looking black
sapote; with a memorable grand finale of the stunning panoramic view from
Flagstaff Hill, looking down over Port Douglas and many miles further down the
coastline into the blue yonder.
An epic, unforgettable day to draw to an end my North
Queensland adventure, before I head south on the 2353 kilometres journey, to my
new home destination of Melbourne, Victoria.
Hi Julia. I am interested in the Australian Rainforest and the many different species of animals, insects and plants. I found it interesting reading about the river trip at Daintree Rainforest that you went on and how the crocodiles were relaxing on the rocks in the sun. I found it particularly interesting that your tour guide on the river knew the crocodiles by name! I like how they camouflaged themselves onto a tree branch. I had no idea that only 2% to 3% of baby crocodiles become adults, how sad is that?
ReplyDeleteI was more interested in the animals, insects and plants in the rainforest, so I looked some of them up and found ones that caught my eye, such as the Union Jack butterfly, the Southern Cassowary bird, the Giant Tree Frog, the Red Bellied Black Snake, and the Red Legged Pademelon Kangaroo. I looked them up and how they lived and found them to be very interesting and unique.
I look forward to your next instalment.
Hello Julia, i have just looked through your blog page and came across this post when you traveled to the Daintree Rainforest, i thought this post was rather interesting and love to hear more about it.
ReplyDeleteIm very interested in nature and my favourite animal is a crocodile and the fact that only 2-3% of crocodile offspring tend to reach adulthood, your blog has inspired me to research further into Rainforests and nature life that lives there also now i have heard it from your point of view i would love to visit there myself .. hope to read some more interesting blogs soon