Tropical explorations

Welcome to northern Australia, where Kakadu national park is a vivid contrast to the stark desert one might expect (ok, so I expected) and after two days traveling I am very much in awe of the masses of wildlife. Here a stunning array of insects and the critters that lunch on them (as well as the tourists that they lunch on) are out in force.

But why? I certainly don’t function well at these temperatures, so why does life seem to flourish here?
Well it’s the end of the rainy season and everything is growing like mad trying to do its bit before the dry sets in (apparently now it’s the ‘knock em down’ storm season) so the place is aching with fresh leaves and flowers, life and water seem to be well connected.

Wherever there is water there are insects (and crocodile warning signs, although there are no crocs in sight), butterflies are hopping from flower to flower sucking nectar with long tounges, and the flies and mozzies swarm on busloads of unsuspecting tourists that have come to see the sights.

Birds have come from miles around to feed among the waterlillies, dragonflies flit from branch to branch and hundreds of species of ants carpet the ground.

Getting a decent picture for you is interesting, so far i have wasps and some very cute insectivores:

And my favourite creature so far? the epic rhinocerous beetles – Xylotrupes  species – about 4 cm long, dark tough beetles that clatter into the windows at night, and make angry hissing noises when you pick them up – just stunning

What a place!

On a sadder note are the many mines we pass along the way, vast holes in the red rock, men labouring under the intense heat for treasure of an industrial kind.

The vast conservation areas in Kakadu and other nearby parks are commendable, and seem to be reaching their goals in preserving biodiversity, but is this coexistance something our own natural environment can cope with?Should this even be something we are considering?

The New Zealand government needs to consider more than just the economic benefits Australia might get from mining, and see the great pitfalls that follow this lifestyle.

And thats quite enough for now, time for a siesta i think. While all these weird and wonderful creatures thrive in the heat i would really like to spend my days in one of the many scenic billabongs. And if i return from my adventure inside a scaly beast, you will know i gave in to that temptation