Australia's Outback is a land of extremes –- soaring temperatures, vast landscapes and some of the most deadly creatures in the world -- an ideal holiday destination for globe-trotting virologist Dr. Mike Leahy. Never content to simply read about his specialist topic, Mike prefers to learn first-hand how the most minute of Earth's creatures can create major headaches for unsuspecting travelers. From an 8-legged murderess to a parasite that turns man's best friend into a killer, if the heat doesn't get you, it's quite possible the wildlife will.
Shearing Shed, Farm Station
In Australia, extreme heat and hazards come with the territory for Aussie farmers. Down in the shearing shed Mike tries his hand at shearing a sheep and finds out why it's a job best left to the professionals. The money and beer might be OK but the risk of catching scabby mouth is enough for Mike to stick with his day job.
Wool Shed, Farm Station
Despite the harshness of the environment, hardy humans have farmed this land for hundreds of years on vast ranches known as stations. Farming this amount of land would be impossible without the working dog but even the faithful collie can harbor a parasite capable of turning it into a rabid killer. Adult Hydatids tape worms move with ruthless efficiency through the food chain, and if their final destination is a human host, the effects can be deadly.
Alice Springs Desert
Dr. Mike heads to Alice Springs, a thriving Outback town in the heart of the red zone, where he's keen to find a bizarre-looking lizard the locals consider prime bush tucker. With razor sharp claws and teeth, the Perentie is Australia's biggest lizard and comes fully equipped with an impressive array of defense mechanisms.
Aussie Backyard
Dr. Mike decides to seek out some of Australia's more common yet equally dangerous inhabitants. From bedbugs that inject their unsuspecting bed pals with saliva full of chemicals capable of stopping blood from clotting to a female spider who eats her male partner after sex and whose bite can kill the very young or old or anyone without an anti-venom kit handy, Mike learns that it pays to check before you sit or lie down here.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory. It lies 335 km (208 mi) southwest of the nearest large town, Alice Springs -- 450 km (280 mi) by road.
Alice Springs Reptile Centre is a privately operated reptile centre and environmental education facility in Alice Springs. It has the largest collection of reptiles in the Northern Territory. Animals at the centre include the Perentie Goanna, Frill-necked Lizards, Thorny Devils, large and small pythons and venomous snakes including Inland Taipans, Brown Snakes, Death Adders and Mulga Snakes. The centre is a popular tourist destination, particularly for children.
Alice Springs Desert Park is an environmental education facility in Alice Springs. It is sited on 1300 haectares of land, with a core area of 52 hectares. It contains native animals and plants representative of central Australian desert environments and contributes to their conservation through research programs as well as through public education.
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