If it was said once, it was said at least 20 times: “Be careful in Australia—everything there will either sting you, kill you, or eat part of you!”

From crocodiles and snakes to sharks, jellyfish, spiders, and wild dogs, Australia has no shortage of animals that could theoretically ruin your day—or your life. As a tourist, you have to be pretty savvy when differentiating between venomous and non-venomous, or between a cute stray dog and a baby-snatching dingo.

There are warning signs everywhere in Australia. I found myself constantly checking my phone to ensure quick access to emergency services, wondering which item—my umbrella, camera, or flip-flops—could serve as a last-minute defence.

Each warning sign came with its own survival strategy: maintain eye contact with a dingo, run in a straight line from a crocodile, and stay calm around a snake. But without knowing the likelihood of an actual encounter, my mind defaulted to worst-case scenarios—like accidentally maintaining eye contact with a crocodile while staying perfectly calm.

The reality? The risk of death from wildlife in Australia is far lower than its reputation suggests.

On average, Australia reports 32 animal-related deaths per year.

The majority (71%) involve land mammals—mostly horses—and nearly a third of these deaths are due to horse-riding accidents.
Kangaroo-related fatalities typically involve car crashes.
Crocodiles? About one or two fatal attacks per year.
Sharks? Around three per year.
Snakes? About two annually.
Jellyfish? One fatality every three to four years.
Spiders? Not a single confirmed death since 1979.
Dingoes? Only two fatal attacks in the last 30 years.

So, while I was doing everything in my power to avoid a National Geographic moment, it turns out Karl was actually disappointed by the lack of wildlife. Writing to the Truro News, he reported:

“In Victoria, the country is well settled, the farmers carrying on dairying principally, though in some sections considerable attention is paid to fruit growing. While passing through Victoria, I saw many snakes but no wild animals. Occasionally, great flocks of parrots and cockatoos would circle over my head as I wheeled along, screeching and screaming all the while.

A peculiar bird in these parts is the ‘Laughing Jackass.’ At dusk and at daybreak, these birds begin their screeching, which very closely resembles a man’s laugh. They are very useful in destroying snakes and are protected by the different governments of Australia.

I saw one of these birds lift a large snake 20 or 30 feet from the ground, then drop him, and before the snake could reach the ground again, this bird, no larger than a crow, would seize it, lift it in the air, then drop it again until the snake was dead.”

Despite all the warnings, there were a few 'wild things' I did want to see—koalas and kangaroos. But for that, I opted for the safe, controlled environment of a zoo. It was there that I also encountered the 'Laughing Jackass'—the kookaburra, the largest of the kingfishers. I managed to snap some photos and even record its cackling call. Watching it from a safe distance, I was grateful that there were no snakes involved.