Kasha Patel, the Deacons Abroad  marketing intern, gives reminders to be careful when in Australia’s natural areas:

Before you go traveling around Australia, make sure you are completely aware of the flora and fauna around you. Our field guides  kept us well informed of the potentially toxic or harmful wildlife around us. The following are potentially toxic species that were discussed extensively that we actually saw:

Stinging tree (Dendrocnide moroides): We encountered the stinging tree multiple times in the rainforests in Binna Burra. The stinging tree has small silica-tipped hairs on the leaves that will pierce the skin and release a neurotoxin when touched. The plant causes a very painful stinging feeling for weeks to months and has been known to kill humans. The plant is usually very tall, about 1 to 2 meters, and grows in very sunny areas. The plant has very broad, heart-shaped leaves. Thankfully the plant was above our heads as we were walking through the rainforest, and we weren’t at risk of actually touching it.

Photo by David Nelson from PerthNow

Cane toad (Bufo marinus): We saw a cane toad on Lady Elliot Island. The cane toad has a poisonous parotid gland behind its ears that produces a milky toxin that usually targets the hearts of its unfortunate victim if ingested. The cane toad is an invasive (exotic) species introduced to Australia in order to kill the native cane beetle, which destroyed lucrative sugar cane crops. The cane toads fixed the beetle problem but started to reproduce uncontrollably. In recent years, the population of the cane toads has diminished, however, they still can be found wild in Australia. If you touch one, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.