Posted by Cape Tribulation is such a wonderful biodiverse tropical area. A must-see location when exploring the Northeastern Queensland area. Within this wet tropics area is the Daintree Rainforest, the largest rainforest on the Australian continent. Cape Tribulation is where many Australian flora stem from. It is the oldest surviving rainforest in the world! The intricate ecosystem makes this place unlike anywhere else!
In 1983, the local government decided to bulldoze the ancient wilderness within Cape Tribulation to build the Bloomfield Track that leads to Cooktown. This action caused an uproar from the community and as a result, protesters created a blockade to prevent more destruction of the rainforest. The great controversial event attracted a good amount of media attention. As a result, federal and state governments realized the value of Cape Tribulation and the rainforest became nationally recognized as a world heritage landmark.
Even though I traveled to Queensland fully aware that it contained an extraordinary amount of dangerous plants and animals, I didn’t fully accept that fact until I stumbled on signs like the picture below. It was a first for me to be in a place with crocodiles living in the waters. It was both frightening and exciting to potentially be in close proximity with such enormous reptiles.
Being in “croc country” provides for the perfect opportunity to see one in person. I decided to go on a boat tour sailing along the Daintree River. We went to a small island where the crocs go to lay their eggs. When I saw my first crocodile in person, I felt like one of the Wild Thornberry’s interacting with the animals in their natural habitat.
Scarface is a notorious croc the locals know as the dominant male in these parts. His name is well deserved because the scars on his face and jaw stick out like a sore thumb. It is from previous fights with other males to dominate the territory and mates.
The scariest and most interesting plant that I heard stories about is called dendrocnide moroides, also known as the suicide plant. It is nicknamed the suicide plant because if you touch it, the stingers on the leaves attach to your skin and release a neurotoxin that is supposed to feel like agonizing acid on skin. The stinging sensation is intermittent and can persist for years! When I found this out I made effort to avoid heart shaped forest green leaves. I swear, Australia, your plant life is something else…
Even though there seemed to be something deathly on every corner, whether it is the rainforest, wildlife, or native flora the region, is completely one of a kind and something to be truly grateful for.
Priscilla's Adventures 