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Moving to Brisbane Soon? Here’s Your Guide to the Most Poisonous Species in the Area

Milly Andrews September 17, 2013
Posted September 17, 2013 In Living Abroad,
Milly Andrews

Born and raised in Portland, Milly has had a lot of experience moving and writing about the relocation process.

Australia has many things to offer to any newcomer – beautiful beaches, amazing deserts, welcoming spirit, and, of course, dangerous wildlife. If moving to Brisbane is in your future, it would be wise to learn about species from which you have to beware. And in order to do so, all you have to do is take a look at our list. It contains everything you should know about the most venomous creatures in the area.

Basic Things You Need to Know if You Plan to Live In the Land Down Under

If you are one of those relocating to another country for the love of adventure and exotic places, AU will be one o the best countries to live in for you. However, before getting moving services and finally relocating across the world, there are a few essential things you should get familiar with. Besides counting on Christmas in summer, you should also know that:

  • Although Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are famous Australian cities, neither is the country’s capital. That title belongs to Canberra.
  • Australia has no official language, but English is seen as a national one. If you have English proficiency, you won’t have to learn the language abroad in order to break the language barrier.
  • Once a British colony, there are bound to be more than language similarities with the UK. Remember that Aussies drive on the left side. Oh, and did you know that they share the same queen? The Australian political system is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch.
  • AU is one of the friendliest countries in the world and home to expats from all over the globe. Both Aussies and different expat communities will be glad to help you with whatever you need.
  • The official currency of the country is the Australian dollar (equal to 0.72 USD)
  • You can stay in the country for up to three months without a permanent visa. Before hiring an overseas moving company, contact the Australian embassy or one of the consulates if you plan to relocate to Australia for a more extended period. They will provide you with all the necessary information about the requirements and documents needed to travel abroad. Also, ensure to know all new information about traveling during coronavirus outbreaks.
  • AU has strict regulations concerning importing animals, so inform yourself on time if you are relocating with a dog or any other pet.
  • When it comes to Australian wildlife, it is more than necessary to know a thing or two about how to live in another country and not end up poisoned. If that is not your cup of tea, maybe it would be better to choose some of the best European countries to live in instead of AU.
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Possibly Dangerous Encounters – The Cost of Living in Brisbane, Australia

Being a country with the most species carrying the deadliest venom, many opt against choosing AU as a place for living overseas. And if you add that many animals don’t have to be venomous at all to kill you, you’ll see that people’s fear is not without a cause. The capital of Queensland is no exception to the rule, and many of those species could be found here.

There are many benefits BRIS has to offer – the country’s top beaches, cheaper homes, excellent employment opportunities, amazing weather, just to count some. However, that kind of life doesn’t come without a cost. If moving abroad here is your dream, know that you’ll have to be more careful. If you opt for BRIS as your future city, researching the fauna must be on your relocation abroad checklist.

Will You Dice With Death After Moving to Brisbane, or Is It Just a Myth?

That being said, it is safe to say that the whole thing is probably blown out of proportion. Yes, there are some creatures you wouldn’t want to meet ever. Still, they are as afraid of you as you are of them. In the sea or at the land, most of them only attack if they feel threatened, so developing habits that will help you avoid that should be enough. After all, none of these species are on the top of the list of causing human deaths. The most deadly animal of the Australian land is – wait for it – a horse.

However, if you meet some of the following creatures after moving internationally and become infected with their venom, dial 000 and contact the ambulance immediately.

Dangerous Ocean or Why There’s a No-Touch-Rule Under the Water

Queensland is known for marvelous beaches and lavish rainforests that can provide you with breathtaking scenery, making this area one of the best places to live abroad. However, don’t let their beauty trick you. Both places are habitats for some of the most deadly species worldwide. So let’s start with those you can find in the waters (but we hope you don’t.)

Don’t let the size of the blue-ringed octopus deceive you. Nine inches big (at the most,) it’s one of the most venomous marine animals in the world! Usually, it is found in the water north of the BRIS metro area, often in rock pools and shallow reefs. Luckily, she is not set to hunt you but has a rather shy and tame nature. However, when feeling in danger, it can bite and poison you with a potent neurotoxin. When ready to attack, blue circles on their skin start glowing (which is where it got the name.) Reddening of the bitten body part and possibly respiratory distress are usual symptoms a person can suffer. There are only three known deaths from this species globally (two of them in AU,) but many survived being bitten. Still, you must be careful when being in shallow rock pools.

As expected, AU is home to the most venomous fish in the world – the stonefish. This can be found along the whole Queensland coast. It got the name because of its appearance, which enables this fish to camouflage completely. However, it is the main reason why there are up to 1,000 reports of encounters with them every year – they are hard to spot. This is why it is common for humans to step onto them and cause the fish to release its venom from the back spines. Luckily, there is no evidence that any encounter ended up fatally, partially due to the development of the antivenom. The smartest defense you can have here is to bring the footwear with you whenever you get into the water. During relocation day preparation, when deciding what to pack, ensure to bring enough pairs for each family member if you are not relocating alone. And if you still end up with poisoning, know that hot water should break down the venom, so put the affected body area in it.

And while the previous two species are not something to lose sleep for, a box jellyfish can bring enough reasons for it. Named for its cube-shaped body, this marine creature has been known to be the cause of about 80 recorded deaths in AU. Human contact with its tentacles could cause severe pain, with venom possibly causing respiratory and cardiac arrest. To lessen the chances of being envenomated, swim at beaches known to be safe and wear protective suits.

Miniature but Deadly Sea Creatures

One more kind of jellyfish that could be fatal to humans is the Irukandji jellyfish. It is much smaller than the one we mentioned above, even though they technically belong to the same species. Its stingers are highly venomous, causing the Irukandji syndrome. Even though the person usually doesn’t feel the sting itself, the symptoms may develop after 20 to 40 minutes. They include sickness, vomiting, and intense pain. An infected person usually needs to be hospitalized, but the symptoms are typically treatable. However, it is believed that two people have died in AU due to the Irukandji jellyfish sting. If you want to protect yourself from it, follow the same advice we gave for the box jellyfish.

Did you know that snails can kill? Well, sort of – cone shells or cone snails are highly venomous marine mollusks. Their shells are usually in beautiful, bright colors and interesting patterns, tempting divers in deep waters to handle them. That is when the cone snail usually releases its small harpoon and injects the venom. It can cause nausea and vomiting and more severe symptoms like muscle paralysis and respiratory and cardiac arrest. When it comes to smaller species, an encounter with them is usually not fatal to humans. Still, venom from larger kinds can be deadly. One of the bigger ones is even nicknamed cigarette snail – dark humor that implies that there is only enough time for one cigarette before death comes after the sting. It has caused more than 20 deaths worldwide, but here in AU, only one official.

Australia Is Home to One of the Most Venomous Snakes

Coastal Taipan is an animal that holds the world’s third deadliest venom and can be found in this area of the country. It usually inhabits the coast of Queensland, from which it got its name. There is no question whether you’ll feel its venomous bite, which causes descending paralysis. It means that you’ll probably experience double vision, inability to talk clearly, drooling, and muscle pain. It could also cause thinning of the blood and respiratory arrest. As with every snake bite, it is necessary to immobilize the bitten place to reduce venom absorption.

South-East Queensland and Other Snake Species

Coastal Taipan is not the only deadly snake lurking around – even 12 snake species are venomous enough to cause a fatal outcome. A red belly black snake, tiger snake, and brown snake are all common in these areas. Moreover, the brown snake is responsible for more than half of fatal outcomes. And when you hear about a species like death adder, you can probably feel goosebumps running through your arm. Can’t you just sense your relocation stress intensifies?

There are several cases of a snake showing up in more urban areas (even homes!) but that is not something to consider as usual. Snakes don’t want to see you any more than you want to see them. However, if it comes to that, there are several ways to protect yourself from snake biting. For instance, before hiring an overseas shipping company and getting packing services, set aside several pairs of closed-toe shoes for movers to pack with the rest of your belongings. It’s a first-line defense against these infamous animals. Also, when you come across one, try to kick your feet on the ground to scare it and make her continue its journey. In most cases, it will be enough to drive it away.

BRIS Is Far From a Spider-Free City

One of the things AU is famous for is spiders. Life in the Land Down Under sadly can’t go without any encounters with weird and big ones. Yuck! But aside from them spooking you and providing you with a fear-caused heart attack, how venomous are they?

There are two species to watch out for when relocating to this city – funnel-web and red-back spider. Sydney funnel-web spider is considered to be one of the deadliest on Earth but is located almost solely in the Sydney area. However, there are many other types of funnel-web spiders, which bites can have fatal consequences for humans if not treated.
Red-back spider (Australian black widow) might be smaller, but the trouble lies in the fact that it just loves urban areas. That is one of the reasons why most spider bites are connected to this little fellow, even 2,000 per year. It is always better to call the ambulance if you are bitten, but know that fatal outcomes are not common even if a person is not treated. In any case, ensure to watch your hand when picking a mail from the mailbox!

And what about those giant huntsman spiders? Luckily for you, their venom is very weak, and the bite from it is not likely to cause anything more than swelling. Still, encounters with them are pretty inevitable when you have a home in AU. So, if you want to know more about big but safe huntsman species and see the dos and don’ts when you come eye to eye with one, ensure to watch the following video.

Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Exploring the Beautiful Land After Moving to Brisbane

So, there you go – the list of most venomous creatures around the BRIS. It’s not that bad, right? Some of them you won’t even be able to see and, sure, some of them will give spooks and goosebumps. However, they must not be the reason you opt against moving overseas. If you choose this place to live abroad, you should be worry-free as long as you take some safety precautions.

Was that the last of your concerns about relocating to this city? If so, now is the time to find the prime international moving company and start with work concerning shipping overseas. Forget about spiders, snakes, and jellyfishes (for now) and focus all your attention on completing the task. And when you come to AU, remember – watch out for those evil horses.

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