We were told about the small nature walk upon arrival at the Daintree Wilderness Lodge. After finding my headlamp, we headed out to see what we could find. I have been on rainforest night walks and wasn’t expecting to see much wildlife, especially so close to a lodge. Because the lodge is located in the Daintree National Park, a place David Attenborough mentions as an extraordinary place to visit, I realised I might be wrong.
After seeing a multitude of creepy crawlies (a personal favourite) we heard the welcoming sound of running water as we approached the small stream at the end of the track. The walk is marked by very helpful reflective orange arrows so even I could not wander far off course, a habit I picked up in the Amazon Rainforest. “Ash…” my guide would often have to say as I followed some interesting creature into the jungle.
After arriving at the stream and scaring my girlfriend with the very unlikely presence of crocodiles, it was time to head back. As we meandered back through the darkened wilderness carefully identifying every snaking tree root as just that, I spotted a more snake-like snaking tree root. I couldn’t believe my luck, there was a scrub python stretched out over the track. This was my first experience of a wild snake in Australia and I relished the encounter. I was also quietly impressed with my snake and root distinguishing ability. After almost stepping on the most dangerous snake in South America, my snake identifying ego needed this little boost. When the initial awe and amazement wore off, it was time to bypass the snake to get back to our cabin.
If you don’t mind disturbing the animal then the best way to clear a snake from your path is to make as much noise as possible. Because I was fairly confident this was a scrub python and non-venomous, and because I wanted to take some more photographs, we walked around the snake trying not to disturb it. My panic stricken girlfriend was less than convinced by my “I’m fairly certain it’s a scrub python…maybe” and was not overly impressed by the encounter. I study zoology but my herpetology does need a little work, I admit.
In the spirit of adventure, I went first around the snake. Despite a spider web to the face it all went smoothly with the snake still in the same position. It was now my turn to spot-light the snake’s friendly looking face as my girlfriend walked around. It was in this moment that I decided humans had an innate ability to detect dangerous or more aggressive animals, or even individuals, by how they look. I am still building the theory and so far it is only bears that are an exception, but that may be the toy industries fault. Think about it, friendly looking herbivores with their eyes on the side of their head to look for danger, mean-looking carnivores with their eyes pointed forwards and pointed faces to detect and judge distance to prey. OK dogs look cute, but they have been artifically selected. Memories of picking up a friendly looking iridescent rainbow boa and getting bitten by a mean looking anaconda may be biasing my theory somewhat… “Hold the light on its head!” I hear…
Girlfriend has now made it impressively right infront of the snake, which has started to recoil into a striking pose or is about to turn around on itself. As I said, my herpetology needs some work. I let out an involuntary “umm” sound. “What does that mean??” she says as she freezes looking at the snake. “Nothing. It’s fine, but keep moving this way” I helpfully advise. She makes it and gives me a hug of relief. “Wasn’t that amazing” I say. “No” she replies. I take a few more photos and stay to watch the snake majestically disappear into the undergrowth. I return to the lodge thoroughly pleased with my encounter and impressed by the Daintree Wilderness Lodge‘s nature walk.
We flick through the identification cards helpfully placed in the lodge and find the scrub python. “See, it was a python and we had no reason to fear” I say to a less than impressed looking girlfriend. I make an informed decision to return to the library and brush up on my herpetology so I appear more convincing next time… “Next time??” Nothing dear… Here is a photo of the snake. The next morning I tell our story to Zoe the lodge manager who mentions that noone had attempted the walk at night before…
