Thursday, June 5, 2008

And now... the news

The day after I arrived in Melbourne, Qantas workers went on strike and disrupted several flights. Several days ago fog grounded flights in and out of Melbourne overnight.

While on vacation, news can take on new relevance with potential disruptions that can have significant consequences.

I was fairly nervous about some of the creatures that live here in Australia. Funnel web spiders *shudders*, big nasty poisonous snakes, more spiders, more snakes, drop bears, oh, and the crocodiles. WOW. Not something you want to tangle with. If the sign says "no swimming, crocodiles!" You don't swim no matter how inviting the water looks.

Then I read this article.

Dog Pack Attacks Croc In Northern Territory

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a raw beauty, and even a certain justice manifested within that cruelty.

The crocodile, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the 'apex predator', can still fall victim to implemented 'team work' strategy, made possible due to the tight knit social structure and 'survival of the pack mentality' bred into the canines.

See the remarkable photograph below courtesy of Nature Magazine. Note that the Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on the croc preventing it from breathing, while another dog has a hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog attacks the soft underbelly of the croc.



Not for the squeemish....

















11 comments:

Half rabbit said...

Who owns those killer dogs, are they Lord Jake's subjects?

Fiery said...

LOL!!!! Did you recognize the ferocious attack stragegy from the ritualistic chicken sacrifice. Brutal. Absolutely brutal!!!!

Poodles said...

AAAAAAWWWWWW!!!!

Richard said...

Damn Crocs, everyone is wearing them here.

Fiery said...

What's up with that? Those are some fugly shoes!

T T Eyes said...

Cute croc eaters :)

Richard said...

IMO Crocs, whether the reptile or the shoes, are extremely fugly! (Warning, that sentence is a foreshadowing.) Nonetheless, a lot of people remark, "My feet love Crocs more than any other shoe ever." I can hear a young woman purring, as her man tells her his feet love her too.

People decorate their Crocs with brightly colored plug-in flowers. There are fuzzy liners for Crocs, and Crocs designed to reduce one's chances of getting wet feet in light rain or snow! There are even Croc Socks!

Famous people like Jennie Garth, George W. Bush, Faith Hill, and my absolute favorite public figure, Rosie O'Donnell, wear Crocs. Of course, Jennie or Faith can wear Crocs around me any time. But I think Rosie and George W. deserve a romp in the sack together, wearing nothing but their Crocs. (That's probably more obscene than the first time you realized your parents had sex together! Blech!)

You can learn more than you ever wanted to know about Crocs at LittleRubberShoes.
Or, go here for a shocking 'croc' experience! (Warning, it's pretty funny at first, but is not for the weak-hearted.) For a milder experience, check out this awesome Aussie bungie-jump croc surprise. Crocs can jump so high out of the water that their hindlegs come right out! Be caiful fillin' ya buckitt for a smoka.

AND Crocs are widely 'available' in Australia, and not just in the billabongs either. Isn't that great!

Richard said...

For us non-Aussie's, I found a pretty fun listing of Aussi slang. It could be useful when among friends!

E.g.
"She's as ugly as a bulldog chewing a wasp."

or the somewhat more complimentary:
"I'd be up her like a rat up a drain pipe."

Much coarse language of course.

Anonymous said...

very cute photo.
though you don't have to worry too much about crocs (the animal not the shoe) as you only find them 'up north'.

It's quite amazing watching crocs jump. Went on a croc watching cruise last year, just south of Darwin, they dangle pork chops from the boat and the crocs leap up to grab them.
Here's a couple of photos
croc_jump
croc_lower (taken from lower deck of the boat)

Anonymous said...

Fiery, was wondering how your itinerary was going, you can discuss 'elsewhere' if you'd like

Fiery said...

Heya OzA! The itinerary is pretty much going one day at a time. Tomorrow we're heading north to see some caves and a bit of the Western Australian Desert!! I can't WAIT!!!!!!!! Might even get to see the stars and the milky way. Already seen the southern cross but I'd love to see it in all it's star spangled glory! :D