0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Welcome to my nightmares of nature. - HOWLING
0:00:08 > 0:00:10I'm Naomi Wilkinson
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and I'm coming face-to-face with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19The ones that make your spine tingle.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21SHE SCREAMS
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Your heart beat faster...
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Whoo-hoo!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27..and your blood run cold.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28(What was that noise?)
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Are they truly terrifying or is there a twist in the tail?
0:00:32 > 0:00:35SHE SCREAMS AND GIGGLES
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Come with me as I shine a light on wildlife's deepest, darkest secrets.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Ooh! Agh!
0:00:42 > 0:00:45And see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50This time we're in the jungles of northern Australia.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52It's an area bursting with life,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55packed with animals of all shapes and sizes and that means there
0:00:55 > 0:00:59are plenty of nightmares of nature just waiting out there for me.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Great, I can't wait(!)
0:01:05 > 0:01:09I'm going to be exploring the rainforest of the Queensland coast
0:01:09 > 0:01:13in search of some surprise shock revelations.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17There'll be a giant bat and its blood-sucking nemesis.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Ooh, that's horrible.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23A karate-kicking killer bird.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25And I'll even be uncovering the darker side
0:01:25 > 0:01:29of Australia's cuddliest critter. Hoo-hoo-hoo!
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Whoever would've thought I'd feel a bit nervous of a koala?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42'But my first stop is the jungle town of Kuranda where I've got
0:01:42 > 0:01:46'an appointment with one of the most feared animals on the planet.'
0:01:48 > 0:01:51I am really not looking forward to today
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and that's because the house invader I've come here to see
0:01:54 > 0:01:57comes pretty high on my list of all-time nightmares.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00I'll give you a clue - it has not two legs,
0:02:00 > 0:02:06not four legs, not six legs... No, it has eight legs.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07SHE GROANS
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Australia is home to over 3,000 species of spider including
0:02:20 > 0:02:23some of the most dangerous in the world and many of them can be
0:02:23 > 0:02:27found in the jungles surrounding Kuranda.
0:02:27 > 0:02:28'To find out more about them,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30'I've come to the home of spider expert, Deanna,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32'and her daughter, Teyenne.'
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Deanna, it's very clear to see that your back garden backs on to
0:02:43 > 0:02:44the jungle so that means you get
0:02:44 > 0:02:47a lot of eight-legged visitors here, do you?
0:02:47 > 0:02:49We do, we get lots of them. So yeah, it's great.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- Are you frightened of spiders? - Scared.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56You're scared, are you? Are you scared of all spiders,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- or just the scary ones? - Not little jumpy ones.
0:02:59 > 0:03:05- You don't mind the jumpy ones? Which ones don't you like?- The big ones.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06The big ones.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11Teyenne is certainly not alone in her fear of big spiders.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I've been scared of them all my life.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18In fact, arachnophobia is probably the most common phobia in the world.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Somebody told me you used to be afraid of spiders like me,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- is that true?- I was terrified.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I could not be in the same room as a spider.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27I remember growing up, my dad had to come in
0:03:27 > 0:03:31and take any spider out of the room, no matter how small it was.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33It was just... It terrified me.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Same here. How did you overcome that fear?
0:03:35 > 0:03:39It was just learning about them and learning what they were capable of
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and learning that they weren't actually out to get me
0:03:42 > 0:03:44because they're are more frightened of us than we are of them.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48So there's some spiders around us now that we might be able to find?
0:03:48 > 0:03:49Yes, there is, for sure.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Together, we'll be brave, we'll look for some spiders in your garden.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- Yeah.- Ready? You show me the way. Find a spider, Teyenne, and show me.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03'I'm encouraged that Deanna has beaten her arachnophobia.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05'Maybe there's hope for me yet.'
0:04:05 > 0:04:10- Where are the best places to look for them?- Everywhere.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11'Of course, in Australia,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15'there are some species of spider you should always be wary of.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19- Oh, I can see some web in here.- Yeah?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- NAOMI GASPS Oh, wow, look at that.- What's that?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- That one is a redback spider. - Is it?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- I know they're dangerous, aren't they?- They are.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33They're one of the few dangerous spiders we have in Australia.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- That is the most dangerous spider ever.- Could it kill you?
0:04:37 > 0:04:42It can but no-one has died from a redback spider bite since 1956.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46- Oh, right.- So a long time, I have an anti-venom for it.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Redback spiders use their potent venom on prey like ants or lizards.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54They build tangled webs with tripwires attached to the ground.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59When an unfortunate victim blunders into the sticky trap, it fires,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03snaring the prey, allowing the spider to move in and immobilise it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06There, look.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11If they feel threatened, then they are going to bite
0:05:11 > 0:05:15so the best thing to do if you see a spider is just to leave it alone.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Most people get bitten when they're trying to get rid of the spider.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- She's really beautiful, isn't she?- She is.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I can't believe I'll say it but I actually really like this spider.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Even though it's really dangerous!
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Let's put her back and look for some more spiders, shall we?
0:05:30 > 0:05:35- There we go.- You go back into your flower pot. Perfect.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41This is a really good place to look for spiders
0:05:41 > 0:05:45because there's lots of stuff flying around they like to hide behind.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- Little hidey-holes for them?- Yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Let's just have a look behind here.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55NAOMI GASPS
0:05:55 > 0:06:00- Eeeh, eurgh! That is my ultimate... Oooh!- Found it.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Oh, my word... Oh, my goodness gracious me.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- This is OK, it's just a huntsman spider.- It's just a spider.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I'm bigger than the spider.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- It's just a huntsman. - Are you putting it on your hand?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16'For me, even getting near to a spider this size,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20'let alone touching it, is a total nightmare.'
0:06:21 > 0:06:24How do you just do that, let it just crawl on you?
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Come and have a look.- Right.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- NAOMI BREATHES HEAVILY - Relax.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35- This is...- Oh, that creeps me out. - This is a male huntsman.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40And he's got a very big leg span.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Good... So could this bite you?
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- Yes, it could.- And would this do you some damage?- No.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Huntsman spiders are relatively harmless.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52'In comparison to the tiny redback, the venom of the huntsman is weak
0:06:52 > 0:06:54'as they're large and quick enough
0:06:54 > 0:06:56'to chase down and grapple their prey.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:00'But the question is am I brave enough to hold it?'
0:07:03 > 0:07:05NAOMI BREATHES RHYTHMICALLY
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- Have I got to try and hold it? - Would you like to?
0:07:08 > 0:07:10No, I wouldn't like to but...
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Are you going to be brave? I'll help you.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Yeah. Is it going to run up my arm and on to my face?
0:07:17 > 0:07:18Not on to your face.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21If it runs up your arm, it'll probably settle on your back.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- Oooh, no!- But I'm here. I'm here to help you.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- OK, you'll rescue it and take it off?- Yes.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Oh, what if it runs up my back? Ooh, no.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34(Oh, my goodness. Right.)
0:07:34 > 0:07:39- Sorry.- It's all right, you move your hand in front of mine so I don't...
0:07:41 > 0:07:44(Oof, right.)
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Eeeesh!
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Look at me, look at me holding a huntsman spider, I can't believe it!
0:08:02 > 0:08:07- You're doing really well.- You take it, you take it, you take it.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Oooooh, yes!
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Well done.- I held it.- That's great. - Ooh!
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Arachnophobes. If we can do it, anyone can do it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23NAOMI LAUGHS
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Well, to be honest I wouldn't want to find
0:08:25 > 0:08:27ANY of these in my back garden.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I've met the giant monster huntsman that's actually
0:08:29 > 0:08:32completely harmless and the tiny,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36beautiful redback but that has the potential to kill me.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39So I guess if I have to put one forward that'll be
0:08:39 > 0:08:42my worst nightmare, it's going to have to be...
0:08:42 > 0:08:43that one!
0:08:45 > 0:08:48I'm a little bit confused about this next nightmare of nature.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51I'm at the wildlife habitat in Port Douglas to meet Australia's
0:08:51 > 0:08:55most iconic tree-dweller, the koala.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57So what do I know about koalas?
0:08:57 > 0:08:59They're cute, they're cuddly, they eat leaves.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03How can a koala possibly ever qualify as a nightmare of nature?
0:09:05 > 0:09:09DRAMATIC MUSIC
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Well, if anyone's going to know the answer to that question,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18it's keeper Clare who's been working with koalas
0:09:18 > 0:09:19for over 10 years.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- Oh, my goodness, Clare. Who have we got here?- This is Sampson.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- Hello, Sampson.- Sampson's a nine-year-old male koala.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33- Is he quite heavy?- Quite heavy, yeah, around nine kilograms.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Koalas are obviously one of the most famous Australian animals.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39People all over the world have heard of them. Why do you think
0:09:39 > 0:09:40they're so special?
0:09:40 > 0:09:44- I think there's no denying the fact they're exceptionally cute.- Yes.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45So they're not a bear, are they?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48They're not a bear, they're totally unrelated to bears.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53- What do they spend most of their time doing?- Very little!- Really?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- They've got a good lifestyle. - 20 hours a day sleeping.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- 20 hours of their day is fast asleep?- Correct.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05The reason for this lazy lifestyle is the koala's diet.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08These fussy eaters favour eucalyptus leaves that are very
0:10:08 > 0:10:11low in energy so the koala's make up for this by spending
0:10:11 > 0:10:14most of their time fast asleep.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Might I be able to have a cuddle?
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Absolutely.
0:10:19 > 0:10:20I've been looking forward to this.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Right, I've got my hair out the way.- Hey, you.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- He's not going to bite me, is he? - No, he's not going to bite you.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30OK. So if you make a nice little seat for him to sit on.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33That is absolutely perfect. And just relax.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35He's a pro at this.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Ooh, he's gripped straight onto me, oh, he's really heavy.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Oh, I didn't think he was going to be as heavy as this. Oh, my word.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47- He's holding on to me.- You cool? - Yeah, totally. Is he?- Very.- Samson.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Cor, he does smell a bit. - It's called the scent gland.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54So I've heard that koalas are nightmares
0:10:54 > 0:10:56but I can't figure out why. I mean, is it the smell?
0:10:56 > 0:11:01Is he going to shoot laser beams out his eyes or something? What is it?
0:11:01 > 0:11:06It's essentially the potential to be quite aggressive towards one another.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08So koalas will fight
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and generally speaking they'll only fight in the breeding season.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15- The males.- And what do they fight over?- They fight over the females.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Ahhh.- Yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20KOALA GROWLS
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Male koalas will often indulge in scraps for the right
0:11:23 > 0:11:25to breed with a female.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28And those bust-ups can be quite brutal.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Those powerful muscles and massive claws,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34usually used for hanging out in the trees, can also be utilised
0:11:34 > 0:11:37as fearsome weapons.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41THEY GROWL
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Although confrontations rarely end in serious injury,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48being attacked by an angry koala, fighting for his girl, could well
0:11:48 > 0:11:50qualify as a nightmare of nature.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56He is gripping on tightly.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58I can imagine if this was a grumpy koala
0:11:58 > 0:12:02he could do me some serious damage with those.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It's actually quite painful. Those claws are strong and sharp.
0:12:06 > 0:12:07Ow, ow, ow.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Oh, he's bitten me. He's just bitten me.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14He just bit my arm.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15Did you really?
0:12:15 > 0:12:17He just bit my arm.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21He's...bit...me.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It was an uncommitted.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Yeah. He just gave me a little... I suddenly got all nervous of him.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- Good boy.- Oh, ho, ho.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Whoever would have thought I'd feel a bit nervous of a koala?
0:12:33 > 0:12:34He's not used to me.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38He's not used to having a camera stuck in his face.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40He just gave me a little bite just to say oi,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42I don't feel very comfortable.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45KOALA GROWLS
0:12:45 > 0:12:49So, koalas aren't as slow, sweet and gentle as some people think.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53They can sometimes be a little bit bad tempered, they're very strong
0:12:53 > 0:12:57and equipped with a ferocious set of claws and are a little bit smelly.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02So, maybe, the koala could be my worst nightmare.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Couldn't you?
0:13:06 > 0:13:07Oh, are we keeping you up?
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Next I'm heading deeper into the jungle on the hunt for an animal
0:13:17 > 0:13:19that has featured in many a tale of terror.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28The real-life inspiration behind that classic creature of horror,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32the vampire, bats have always been a source of frighten fascination.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37There are over 1,000 species worldwide from tiny
0:13:37 > 0:13:39micro-bats to massive mega bats.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44But do they all deserve such an evil reputation?
0:13:46 > 0:13:47If the stories are to be believed,
0:13:47 > 0:13:52this animal has a terrifying appearance, possesses supernatural
0:13:52 > 0:13:57powers to help it see in the dark and likes to feast on blood.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01SCARY MUSIC
0:14:03 > 0:14:06That screeching you can hear is actually a giant
0:14:06 > 0:14:10colony of fruit bats, one of the largest species of bat on earth.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13They roost up at the top of the trees in huge numbers.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Hence this racket. So we're setting up, we're going to see how close
0:14:17 > 0:14:19we can get without spooking them.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Thank you.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Just see if these fruit bats really are the nightmarish,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40ghoulish creatures of horror stories.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Awww. No. They're not.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54They're really cute. Awww.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Fruit bats certainly don't look like a ghoulish nightmare.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01In fact, with their doglike faces, they're often called flying foxes.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Oh, that one's got a little baby with it. Aww.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12As their name suggests, they much prefer fruit and nectar to blood.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15I can see why they're called flying foxes.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20They've got long snouts, pointy ears and big beautiful eyes.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Unlike many bats, they navigate by sight rather than echolocation
0:15:26 > 0:15:29so no supernatural powers either.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33They do have one thing in common with other species of bat, though.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36And that's the ability to fly.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39I wonder what it would be like to fly through this dense forest...
0:15:39 > 0:15:40so high.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Oh, ho, ho, ho.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Naomi, if you want to experience what it's like to
0:15:45 > 0:15:49fly like a fruit bat, how about a spot of jungle surfing?
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Zooming through the trees on a wire 20 metres above the forest floor?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55I need to keep my gob shut.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Ready.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15It's too high.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Obviously I can't fly so this is probably about as close as I'm
0:16:19 > 0:16:22ever going to come to experiencing life as a fruit bat.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27Let's go jungle surfing! Woo hoo.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31SHE SCREAMS
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Ha ha ha. Ah ha ha.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43That was fast.
0:16:46 > 0:16:52The wingspan of the largest fruit bats can be up to 1.8 metres.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57Woah!
0:16:57 > 0:16:59They don't just use their wings for flight,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01they also use them as a cloak
0:17:01 > 0:17:04wrapping them around their bodies to protect them from the cold.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06I'd love to demonstrate that with my arms
0:17:06 > 0:17:09but I'm too scared to let go.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- SHE GRUNTS - Whee!
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Like most bats, they like to hang upside-down when they're resting.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21It's a great way to stay out of danger
0:17:21 > 0:17:25and also very easy to get airborne because you simply let go.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27I'm not going to do that bit.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28SHE CHUCKLES
0:17:28 > 0:17:30So they're very cute, they don't drink blood,
0:17:30 > 0:17:32they don't have supernatural powers.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35I don't really think I can call fruit bats a nightmare of nature
0:17:35 > 0:17:38but there is a blood-sucking monster living in this rainforest
0:17:38 > 0:17:42and ironically the blood it's after belongs to the bats.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50The fruit bats of northern Australia are under attack
0:17:50 > 0:17:53from a lethal arachnid.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57No bigger than your fingertip, the paralysis tick.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Once this unwelcome parasite has latched on,
0:18:01 > 0:18:05it injects a toxin that paralyses its victim.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10Not good if you live 20 metres above the ground like a fruit bat.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Once the ticks have found a bat, they feed for several days,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16swelling to many times their original size
0:18:16 > 0:18:20as they gorge on their unlucky host.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23So the true blood-sucking nightmare of the story is not
0:18:23 > 0:18:26a bad at all, it's a tiny but terrible tick.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I'm joining Jenny from the Tolga Bat Hospital on a rescue mission.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44'We're scouring the forest floor in search of fruit bats
0:18:44 > 0:18:47'that have succumbed to the ticks' toxin.'
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Jenny, how many bats are affected by these ticks every year?
0:18:53 > 0:18:57When we're really busy here, we get 50 adults a day
0:18:57 > 0:18:59and 30 babies a day. NAOMI GASPS
0:19:00 > 0:19:04'And it's not long before we find our first victim.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:09- Ah, look. Here's one. - Oh, oh, oh, oh.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Poor little thing.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15So how long has she been like this, do you think?
0:19:15 > 0:19:20Oh, she probably dropped last night. Trying to fly out.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Oh, poor thing.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26It's heartbreaking, isn't it?
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Yeah. There you go, sweetheart. There we go.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Let's see if we can help you. We're going to remove this tick now then?
0:19:34 > 0:19:39- Yeah, we will.- Let's get it off. - Yeah. Come on, love.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Will it only be one tick? - Not necessarily, no.
0:19:42 > 0:19:49- They can have more than one? - Yeah.- Oooh, that's horrible.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Do you just remove them with your fingers?
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Yeah, I keep two of my fingernails a little bit longer
0:19:55 > 0:19:56during tick season.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58- Tick removal fingernails! - Tick removal fingernails.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05And there it is.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Now it starts off just the little brown bit
0:20:08 > 0:20:10and that grey is all engorged with blood.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- So that's what it's been feeding on? - Yes.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15That's right and that's quite a big tick.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Once the ticks have been removed the rescued bats are taken to
0:20:24 > 0:20:26the Tolga Bat Hospital where Jenny
0:20:26 > 0:20:31and her team of dedicated volunteers care for them around the clock.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35And with 60 hungry orphans to feed, I'm more than happy to help out.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40- And we're holding them upside-down, cos that's how he feels comfy.- Yeah.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Oh, I am falling in love with you, you're so cute.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51It can take months for the bats to fully recover from the toxic attack
0:20:51 > 0:20:53of the paralysis tick but once they do,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56they'll return to a life in the wild.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06There is no way anyone can call this a nightmare of nature
0:21:06 > 0:21:10but a tiny tick that can drink its own weight in blood
0:21:10 > 0:21:12until it's full to bursting
0:21:12 > 0:21:16and injects a toxin completely paralyses you -
0:21:16 > 0:21:20that definitely does stand a chance of being my worst nightmare.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25HEAVY ROCK MUSIC
0:21:30 > 0:21:34There is an animal hiding somewhere in this rainforest
0:21:34 > 0:21:37that boasts some truly nightmarish credentials.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39It's quite capable of killing a fully grown person,
0:21:39 > 0:21:44it is big, it's strong, it's fast and it's heavily armed.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48It's not a big cat, it's not a crocodile, it's actually...
0:21:48 > 0:21:49a bird.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Standing almost two metres tall,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59the cassowary is one of the world's largest birds.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03These giant flightless jungle dwellers rarely come into contact
0:22:03 > 0:22:07with people but when they do, the results can be terrifying.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13GRUNTS AND KARATE SHRIEKS
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Cassowaries are armed with a set of huge clawed feet,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20capable of inflicting serious or even fatal blows.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21HIYAAH!
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Finding these birds in their dense jungle habitat is tricky,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39especially here in Australia where there are only thought to
0:22:39 > 0:22:41be about 1,000 left to living in the wild.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44But we've received a tip-off that there are several cassowaries
0:22:44 > 0:22:47hanging out down as a caravan park of all places so we're
0:22:47 > 0:22:51going to find out if the karate-kicking cassowary
0:22:51 > 0:22:55really does deserve its nightmare reputation as a big, bad bird.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09'To help me hunt down this elusive avian,
0:23:09 > 0:23:11'I've enlisted the help of local guide Phil
0:23:11 > 0:23:15'who's been tracking and spotting cassowaries for years.'
0:23:16 > 0:23:17Right then, Phil,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20what do you think our chances of finding a cassowary are today?
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- I would say very good.- Yes?
0:23:22 > 0:23:24This is a very well-known spot to see them
0:23:24 > 0:23:27so I think you've got the time, a bit of patience,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29chances are really excellent.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Do you think they deserve their nightmarish reputation?
0:23:32 > 0:23:36They can be dangerous, so you should always treat them with great respect.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38It is a wild animal and it is potentially dangerous
0:23:38 > 0:23:40but treat it with a bit of common sense,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43shouldn't be a drama so hopefully it'll suit.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- I like that. "No drah-mas!"- No drama.- Bit Australian, No drah-mas.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53'It's not long before we start to see clues
0:23:53 > 0:23:56'that the cassowaries are nearby.'
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- And this is a footprint? - Yeah, sure is.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02You can see it's got the three toes here.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05I'm really surprised at the size of that, it's so big,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- it's like a dinosaur print. - It certainly is.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11A big, scaly, three-toed dinosaur footprint,
0:24:11 > 0:24:12that's exactly what they're like.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- How fresh do you think this one is? - I'd say that's this morning.- Oooh!
0:24:16 > 0:24:19- Yeah, very fresh.- That's encouraging. - With a bit of luck, yep.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Oh, there's one there!
0:24:41 > 0:24:46Goodness me, they're enormous. Look at those feet.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Yeah, have a look at that inner claw when she comes close.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- They are monster feet, aren't they?- Yes, yes.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- So they've got huge power in those legs?- Yes, yes.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59That inner claw, that's the one that does the damage.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03So if they were feeling at all threatened or nervous by us,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05they can kick you?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Yes, they can jump maybe three or four feet
0:25:08 > 0:25:11and they hit you in the chest and tug down, that's what happens.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13- Yikes.- Yeah.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Yeah, you can see when she stands up she can get some serious height.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Oh, yes.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20She'd do that if she was feeling nervous, make herself big?
0:25:20 > 0:25:23If alarmed, she'll stand upright and fluff out
0:25:23 > 0:25:27so gets a third bigger in size.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29What would should you do if a cassowary does that near you?
0:25:29 > 0:25:32- Back off.- You don't run away? - No, don't run, just back off.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33It's warning you.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35- If you run, what would happen? - It'll chase you.- Oh.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Yeah, you don't want that cos it can run faster than you can.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45'But as our cassowary heads into the caravan park,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48'I'm beginning to suspect that these birds aren't the feathery fiends
0:25:48 > 0:25:49'they're portrayed as.'
0:25:56 > 0:25:57The people round here
0:25:57 > 0:26:00certainly don't seem too worried by the bird's presence.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06'With their size and power, they may be an intimidating animal
0:26:06 > 0:26:10'but in reality, cassowaries will only resort to attack
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'if they're threatened or defending their young.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16'When they're simply foraging for food like this,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19'they pose very little risk to us humans.'
0:26:22 > 0:26:26The cassowary is widely considered to be the most dangerous bird
0:26:26 > 0:26:30in the world but look at this one. As bold as brass, strolling along
0:26:30 > 0:26:33the beach right next to all these families and nobody seems fazed.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36After all, they are intelligent, inquisitive birds,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39they make very caring parents and they will only attack
0:26:39 > 0:26:42if they're provoked or feeling threatened.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44However, having got this close to one
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and seeing the size of those claws,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I think I'm always going to be wary of the cassowary.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55So our trip to the jungles of northern Australia have
0:26:55 > 0:26:59certainly produced some unusual and interesting nightmare contenders
0:26:59 > 0:27:02but which jungle critter gave me the jitters the most?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Was it a spider invasion of the back garden?
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Ooh hoo hoo hoo!
0:27:08 > 0:27:11A surprisingly grumpy koala?
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Oh, he's bitten me, he's just bitten me.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Hanging around upside down 20 metres above the forest floor like a bat?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Whoo!
0:27:20 > 0:27:22SCREAMING
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Or the killer kick of the giant cassowary?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30But the one that really made my skin crawl
0:27:30 > 0:27:34was the toxic terror of the bloodthirsty paralysis tick.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Ooh, that's horrible.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41That was definitely my worst jungle nightmare.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44SCREAMING
0:27:51 > 0:27:55We're giving diluted milk initially...
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Something just fell on my head which felt like poo.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01- Probably was.- Is it probably bat poo? Eurgh!
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Is it good luck to have a bat poo on your head, like a bird?
0:28:05 > 0:28:07- Yes, yes, yes. - Well, that's good!
0:28:07 > 0:28:08SPLAT!
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.