Sunday, August 26, 2007

The Drop Bear

I see that Blogger has just added a video upload and during my post(s) on Brisbane to Perth with Holtie, the posts which start in March and finished in June, I was not able, then, to add video, ah, but now we can so here's the drop bear.

Those in Australia may remember the Bundaberg Rum TV commercials with a polar bear being the drop bear.
My video was made in 2002, well before the Bundaberg Rum commercial so I wasn't "stealing their thunder".
Here now is the Wazza and Holtie "Drop Bear" video clip, in all it's raw state. Fortunately for me that drop bear that attacked me was only a junior so I was lucky to escape with only a few scratches

What is a Drop Bear.

The Drop Bear is described as an arboreal, (tree dwelling) carnivorous mammal of Australia, Phascolarctus Hodgsonii, growing to around 4 feet in height. This description is not far wrong. Believed to have evolved from a similar line to koalas, Drop Bears vary from 3 to 5 feet in height, but are extremely strong. They are covered in a dense fur, which can range from almost black to the Alpine Drop Bear's snowy white coat. They have broad shoulders and razor sharp claws on all four limbs. They are able to walk for short distances on two legs, but are much faster on all four, being capable of bursts of speed approaching 60 km/h at full gallop. Their heads are similar to those of koalas, but with enlarged canine teeth, not unlike those of bears or other carnivorous animals.

Drop Bears are not cuddly and friendly, like their cousin the koala. They are vicious, calculating, cold-blooded killers. Their usual method of attack is to select animals which stray from their group, including humans, dropping down onto them from above. They then proceed to wrap themselves around the body of their prey, squeezing them to death, often crushing the rib cage and breaking the neck. Occasionally when hunting, and when threatened, the Bears will drop down in front of, and then challenge their prey, snarling and flashing their sharp claws and teeth, before ripping their prey to shreds with their powerful arms and legs. Of all the ways to die in the bush, this would have to be the most horrible. If seen, Drop Bears should NOT be approached, as they are easily frightened and likely to attack. Vehicles are known to have been attacked, and being in one is no defence. An adult Drop Bear is able to easily break windows and enter vehicles to extrude would-be meals.




When you visit the outback of Australia take great care when walking beneath trees. The Drop Bear is found in wooded areas all over the Australian continent, including Tasmania, and is thought to in fact venture as far north as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

21 comments:

Peter said...

Cecil B DeWazza's epic tale of the Australian Drop Bears with an all star cast.

Lee said...

Peter put the wind up me so I had to scoot on over here straight away in fear of what he would do to me if I didn't! ;)

Yep...one has to be careful of those drop bears when travelling Australia...they can be very off-putting!

Cliff said...

The good news about 'drop bears' is that they seem to only attack...shall we say, Unbalanced folks that are normally in 'care' facilities. I have no idea how this one seemed to attack such a 'normal' individual as you.
Peter sent me here.

I'll try to get even with him for that.
I assume you will accompany him to Nebraska next July?

Merle said...

Hi Warren ~~ Wow - what a story and with pictures. Well done on your first Video, I guess we will see more at some stage. Hope all is well with you. Those Shadow images of Wonderful world were great. I got them a couple of times. Good song by old Louis
Armstrong. Take care, Regards, Merle.

Jeanette said...

Hi Warren, just popped over from Peter's the two actors gave me a laugh> I was waiting for something to drop on Peter...

LZ Blogger said...

Wazza ~ When I tried the vide... I got a msg that said this video is "currently NOT AVAILABLE"... boy... that's the story of my life! ~ jb///

Jamie Dawn said...

That was vicious!!!!!

That must have been a baby Drop Bear because he was so little.

I hope you are not left with lifelong scars from that hitonious attack!!!!!!

:-)

Miss Cellania said...

Hahahaha!

Anonymous said...

Hi Wazza, I've come across here from Peters Blog, via Marcus's Blog!

My first encounter with Drop Bears was in Forestry School in Dwellingup, WA back in 1980. Vicious blighters!

Funny though, we only ever saw them when we were extremely drunk.

Puss-in-Boots said...

I've heard that Drop Bears only attack very drunk people, too.

How much had you two had to drink that day...hmmmmm?

Rachel said...

I was on the edge of my seat to see what happened.

Very good on the video! I think you got in some practice if something does drop from a tree on you!! :)

Walker said...

LMAO!!!!!

Here we have raccoons that do that to you but only after they have found your still and drained it dry.

LZ Blogger said...

Peter ~ I was finally able to see this from my home PC. It was good to see (and hear) you in there and good to hear Wazza as well. Oh.. and I can't forget the star THE DROP BEAR! ~ Good day to you mate! ~ jb///

Merle said...

Hi again Warren ~~ I am so relieved that you two survived the wilderness and the dreaded drop bear. (Though he
looked quite cute.) I haven't heard of hoop snakes, but guess they are related to the drop bear. Have you heard of side-winder snakes. I think
I have, but it may have been a bad dream. May pay to google them, I had an idea that they wound up like hoops
Take care, my friend, Cheers, Merle.

Hale McKay said...

Way to go Wazza! You fixed me but good for not visiting your site in a while!

At first I couldn't get the video to open and I was ready to type a comment of how I'd never heard of "drop bears" even though I've seen many, many animal programs about animals in the world, including Australia.

Fortunately to save egg on my face - the video finally opened. That would have been a perfect post for April Fool's Day.

I really enjoyed your posts about the Tramsway Museum and trolleys.

I was fascinated with your piece about 'Sir Charles Kingston.' I don't remember ever hearing or reading about the fellow before.

Great posts all!

JunieRose2005 said...

:) What brave guys you both are!!!


Junie

Raggedy said...

Hahahahaha!
I have missed you.
It is good to be back.
My health is better.
We just had a tornado last Sunday and our power was just restored on Saturday. I will try and catch up with all the posts I missed over the past few months as soon as I am able.
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from
the Cool Raggedy one

Unknown said...

That was great fun, but I enjoyed the tram and trolley stories below just as much.

Cliff said...

The lapse of time since this post makes me fear you might have again been attacked by a drop bear.

Pamela said...

there should be a warning: don't try this at home.

Anonymous said...

I think my brother had a stuffed drop bear as a little kid.