I hate eels. Loathe them. Slimy little fin-laden skulkers! Years ago I was swimming in our creek and omg an eel touched me and I virtually levitated onto dry land. Hate.
Here the loathsomeness of the eel is partially ameliorated by the cuteness of the ducks:
Mind you it’s hard work maintaining the rage against any species when you realise their birthing plan consists of “dive into the marine trenched then explode” although so far I’m managing.
I found out about the reproductive habits of eels while at Tarzali Lakes, an organic fish farm south of Cairns. Although it’s an operating fish farm they have put aside some land as a platypus reserve. We saw a platypus in the wild – a very uncommon sight (there are no photos because a platy in the water makes a cheetah look a tad sluggish).
Also at Tarzali Lakes they raise redclaw, and this little sweetie wanted to come home with me:
although NO THANK YOU DO NOT WANT as I prefer my lobster with a lot more butter. Also cooked.
Earlier in the day we had seen the Great Curtain Fig Tree:
Curtain figs are also known as strangler figs, which is apt as they basically take over their host tree. Nature can be so ill-mannered.
We also saw the Green Ringtailed Possum, which is apparently very rare and very cute:
Parenthetically I find Australian attitudes towards possums to be quite funny – in New Zealand they’re regarded as a pest and clothes made of or incorporating possum fur are considered eco-friendly*. I know the situation is not really the same here, as many possums are native to Australia but still, it’s one of those trans-Tasman differences.
*David once asked me how they shear the possums. Umm, yeah. “Shear” them.
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