TOURISTS got a bit more than they bargained for on Monday when Fat Albert – the dominant male crocodile on the Daintree River - leapt out of the water and sank his teeth into the railing of their boat. David White, owner and operator of Solar Whisper, said he spotted the river's two big males, five-metre Fat Albert and four-metre long Scarface, scrapping over territory about 2.30pm on Monday. "At this time of year, this is a fairly common occurrence, making trips out on the river so exciting for our passengers," Mr White said. "When male crocs fight they are full of testosterone and can act aggressively towards any-thing nearby. "Knowing this, we idled quite some distance away, ensuring we gave the boys plenty of space to rumble. "However, Fat Albert broke off the fight and vanished under the water, re-appearing  seconds later right beside the boat. Suspecting Fat Albert's intentions, Mr White threw the boat in reverse and moved his passengers to the far side of the boat. Not intimidated by the fact that he was taking on a boat nearly twice his size, the big boy of the river launched himself out of the water with his powerful tail. As he dropped back into the water, Fat Albert snapped at the tourist boat, leaving a couple of dents in the welded aluminium hull and the top railing, more than a metre clear of the water. Mr White said no-one had been in danger during the attack but it left him and his passengers understandably rattled. ''It was pretty scary," he admitted. "It’s not the first time a croc has had a go at a boat on the Daintree, but it’s the first time he's left marks on a boat." Mr White said he didn’t blame Fat Albert for his display of dominance, and certainly didn’t want any action taken to remove the monster saurian. "He was letting us know who was in charge of the river”, Mr White said. "In -future I'll give fighting crocodiles even more space." After assaulting the boat, Fat Albert chased off another smaller crocodile, while Scarface took out his frustration on a nearby mangrove tree. And it's not just male crocs that get cranky during the mating season. Nesting females will defend their nests against any real or perceived threat to their offspring. Although crocodiles are most likely to be aggressive in rivers and estuaries, Port Douglas locals received a timely reminder that they can also be a threat along beaches and in lagoons. Warning signs were placed along southern Four Mile Beach last week after a reported sighting, while rangers from the Department of Environment and Resource Management spent Wednesday morning setting floating traps in the Reef park lagoon. A reminder from the Queensland Government earlier this month reminded people to be particularly croc-wise during the breeding season, which lasts until April. "This time of year, it can be more dangerous because the males are full of testosterone," Mr White said. "When there's just one it’s not so bad, but if you see two crocs having a go at each other stay well clear."

RICHARD KOSER – Port Douglas & Mossman Gazette 22 October 2009

koser@tpd.newsltd.com.au

Bloomfield Track current Road conditions are good.  This is a gravel road and you will have river crossings and need a 4WD.  The road has been graded and is being well maintained this year.  If there are heavy rainfalls you will need to check again but at this stage, all good.  YES, the inland road to Cooktown via Mareeba is bitumen all the way on the Peninsula Developmental Road and Mulligan Highway.

To inspire one of the world's most inspirational women is no mean feat but a young Aboriginal girl from Mossman may have what it takes to draw Oprah Winfrey to Far North Queensland.

Tahlia has worked at the Lodge for 3 years and is the face of Daintree Essentials (Organic Skin Care Range inspired by the owrld’s oldddest rainforest and ancient wisdom from the World’s oldest Race. Daintree essentials is made exclusively by Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa)

Tahlia is one of 50 local Aboriginals who have been trained and employed at Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa over the past 13 years.

Tahlia Burchill, 16, was one of three Kuku Yalanji women interviewed in late November for a segment of Winfrey’s show called Beauty Around the World and the US talk show queen is reportedly "blown away by her". 

In fact, the mega-celebrity is now considering coming here herself to film a more in-depth segment about Tahlia’s rainforest Aboriginal tribe, their culture, inner beauty and spirituality.

An excited Tahlia, who learned the news on Friday, said meeting Oprah would be "absolutely awesome… I’m up for it".

"I guess she’s just such a role model in so many ways, she’s such a powerful person," she said.

As captain of Mossman State High, chair of the Leukaemia Foundation Mossman district youth committee, a flautist in school bands, cheerleader, representative athlete, exhibiting artist and talented contemporary dancer, Tahlia – who won last year’s FNQ Zone School Constitutional Convention with her oratory on the need for more indigenous leaders – is something of a role-model herself.

Terry Maloney, who with his wife Cathy runs Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa and recommended Tahlia to Oprah’s company Harpo Productions for the segment, describes the teenager as "amazing".

"She excels in just about everything she puts her mind to… she’s shooting further than the stars I think," Mr Maloney said.

The multi-award winning eco lodge, which employs Kuku Yalanji people on its staff and incorporates indigenous knowledge into its spa treatments, art classes and interpretive walks, formed the backdrop for much of the day-long shoot.

Also featured on the segment were Tahlia’s "aunty" Janice Walker, a grandmother and Kuku Yalanji elder, and Merindi Brisco, Janice’s niece and soul-singing member of the Briscoe Sisters.

"Undoubtely the best place to be at this time of the year!"

Daintree Rainforest days of 27-28 degrees with cooler evenings and summer rain. Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa set in a lush valley with it's own micro climate with waterfalls. An ideal heaven to relax, sleep well and rejuvenate.

Rainforest Rescue announces the purchase of a tenth property through the Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project.

This is extremely good news for the critically endangered Southern Cassowary. It prevents another housing development with all its associated dangers – dogs, loss of corridors, traffic and road kills – from destroying the delicately balanced habitat of this “keystone” species of the rainforest. Property No. 10 is essential habitat for this fabulous big bird, whose numbers are far fewer than the already low previous estimates.

The vegetation type is described as wet to very wet vine forest with emergent large-fruited red mahogany, having a rainforest understorey merging into simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest. The biodiversity values of this latter ecosystem type are described as being “very species rich”. Lofty clumps of locally endemic fan palms and black palms grace the northern sector of the property whilst two species of cycad and numerous ferns abound in the denser southern part. These include the King Fern, which, with fronds up to 5 metres long, is reputed to be the largest of all ferns. It is as a primitive plant, very similar types having been around for 300 million years.

The process is now underway to have to have the land protected in perpetuity by an Act of the Queensland Parliament by having the property declared as the Tree Friends Nature Refuge.

In announcing this major step forward, Executive Officer Kelvin Davies was especially proud that it has been achieved without any government funding. “It’s a significant achievement for community conservation, proving that donations from individuals and businesses make a big difference,” said Kelvin.

Equally exciting is the news that Rainforest Rescue is now on the verge of buying an eleventh property. Property No. 11 is located less than a kilometre away and is just as critical for Cassowaries and other rare and endangered species, like the Bennetts Tree-kangaroo. It will provide a vital corridor through the rural subdivision from the Daintree National Park on its northern side to two declared Nature Refuges to the south.

“We only need to raise $85,000 to complete the purchase of this next vital property – such a small amount to preserve forever another slice of the irreplaceable Daintree – and we call upon concerned Australians to contribute to this campaign,” Kelvin adds. “The current owner is committed to conservation and is offering the lot to Rainforest Rescue at less than market value, so we have taken an option to purchase.”

With the end of the financial year looming, Rainforest Rescue is now seeking tax-deductible donations from the community or business sponsorships to protect this two hectares property to establish and protect forever the wildlife corridor that it offers between the Daintree National Park and the Perna Greene Nature Refuge.

David Suzuki, the internationally acclaimed broadcaster, journalist and biologist is making his voice heard as a spokesperson for Rainforest Rescue.

"Come on Australia" said David Suzuki. "This is important work. All Australians should get behind Rainforest Rescue and support the Daintree Buy Back and Project Forever Project" David Suzuki said;

The Daintree rainforest is currently threatened by rural residential development" 

Make a difference with your tax-deductible donation today!

Or order a Daintree Gift Card for your friends and loved ones

You can read the full article on David Suzuki's Daintree message in the News section of the Rainforest Rescue Forum. David has also recorded two radio announcements for Rainforest Rescue. You can download MP3 audio tracks of David's 30 second spot (469KB) and 60 second spot (941KB)