An early colonist named George Elphinstone Dalrymple explored the area in where he came across a magnificent river. He named the river after his friend and early government geologist, Richard Daintree. Now not only the river, but the whole region has laid claim the Daintree name. Throughout the modern era, development has expanded into the Daintree region fuelled by tourism and scientific exploration purposes.
This discovery generated awareness and scientific interest in this rainforest. Idiospermum australiense, commonly known as the Idiot Fruit, is one of the rarest and most primitive of the flowering plants. There are so many aspects to this rainforest that makes it truly special and unique including the rainfall and species diversity.
There are around different types of trees in the Wet Tropics and in 1 hectare alone you can likely expect to find between to different types of tree. This incredible diversity make this area so special and unique, setting it apart from other rainforest areas around the world.
The major benefit of rising above the surrounding canopy is the ability to gain maximum exposure to the sun. The trees are also easily spotted by any creatures that pollinate. While there are many plants to look at and enjoy, the rainforest is a wild place so there is also plant life that is best to avoid. There are two primary plants that are best to avoid in the rainforest. The Wait-A-While vine is a spiky plant that is so sharp it can cut you through clothing.
There is also the stinging tree filled with tiny, unseen pricks that can cause an itch. A significant amount of rain falls in the Daintree Rainforest to sustain the natural habitat.
The average annual rainfall in the Daintree rainforest is approximately mm 79in per year. Some areas have even recorded up to mm in in a single year. The wet seasons is between December and March. The mangrove system of forests that ring the mouths of creeks and rivers in the Daintree is a wonderful fish nursery that plays a particular importance in the ecology of the area. Mangroves are vital for many young fish species that migrate to the Great Barrier Reef later in life.
They also hold the highest species diversity for this type of habitat anywhere in Australia. Anyone who visits the Daintree Rainforest is bound to stumble across some form of unique Australian wildlife whether it is our world famous cassowary, mammals, colourful birds, scaly reptiles and snakes, frogs or invertebrates. These magnificent creatures are large flightless birds.
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Get exclusive discounts with our Experience Perks on a number of great partners brands for extra savings on food, fashion, accommodation and more. The lushness of the World Heritage-protected Daintree Rainforest is one of the biggest drawcards for visitors travelling to Tropical North Queensland , featuring a diverse ecosystem and some of the oldest preserved plant life on the planet.
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Find a travel agent. Featured articles. Australia's best health and wellness retreats. Ok, I agree. It operates on a cable system and is capable of taking up to 16 vehicles across the river at a time. The trip from the south bank to the north bank of the river takes about 5 minutes. This is the only cable ferry operating in a World Heritage area in the world. The Daintree Ferry makes its first crossing for the day at 6AM and doesn't rest until midnight.
This pattern is repeated seven days a week. The Daintree Ferry is the only means of crossing the river; therefore visitors are warned to expect delays. With over , visitors per year using this ferry to enter the World Heritage Area, this is a major undertaking for the operators. The Daintree River is the great dividing river that separates the Daintree rainforest from the rest of the world. Passing over the river is a symbolic entry into the beautiful tropical forest, and it feels as though you are entering a unique and ancient place.
The Daintree River is home to a dazzling array of tropical life. It supports saltwater and freshwater marine life, including the dreaded saltwater crocodile.
There have been numerous reports of deaths in the Daintree River from crocodile attacks, so it is important not to step close to the riverbank and absolutely never swim in the river. The mouth of the Daintree River opens onto a giant sandbar that shifts with each changing tide. Due to the ever-shifting deep centre of the sandbar, entering the Daintree River has always been a problem for ship captains. The river winds through thick mangrove swamps where the water remains very salty. As it progresses through the rainforest, the water turns fresh.
At this convergence point, an abundance of wildlife congregate, particularly fish. Similar to the plants in the Daintree Rainforest, this area is home to the greatest concentration of animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction, anywhere in the world.
Estuarine Crocodile One of the most well known animals living in the Daintree Rainforest area is the Estuarine Crocodile. This creature has been the bane of many explores and settlers in the region during the past years, and it continues to be a threat to visitors to the Daintree who are unaware of the dangers associated with swimming among them. The crocodile is from the reptile family, and has a cold-blood system which means it needs to regulate it's own body temperature closely. For this reason, it is common to see a saltwater crocodile lying still with its mouth gaping - a cooling process to maintain body temperature between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius.
A crocodile feeds upon prey with sudden fury. It will normally wait near the riverbank, very still, and pounce upon unsuspecting prey in a rapid movement. The victim is thrashed into submission, and dragged underwater where it is stashed underneath a ledge or some other obtrusion from the river.
The victim is then left to soften for a few days before the crocodile returns to have a feast. The crocodile will eat anything including smaller animals such as fish, crabs and insects. Meals also include larger animals such as turtles, birds, reptiles, dingoes, wallabies, domestic cattle, and people if you're careless. The temperature at which a crocodile egg is kept determines the sex of the baby crocodile. If the egg is kept at Any other temperature and the baby crocodile will be a female.
Please note that the Estuarine Crocodile became a protected species in due to overly aggressive hunting by humans. It is illegal to injure or kill a crocodile. The species that had once been strong had been reduced by unnatural threats to its habitat including collisions with vehicles, accidental trappings intended for feral pigs, and killings by dogs.
As a result, the cassowary is listed as an endangered species. However, it is making a comeback. Recent estimates put the population over - a significant jump in numbers since The cassowary is vital to the wet tropics region throughout Far North Queensland because it provides a role of seed disperser for over species of rainforest plants with large fruits. Without the cassowary, these plants would be concentrated around a parent plant and would not spread throughout the rainforest ecosystem.
The skin on the cassowary's head is pale blue, becoming darker further down the neck. Two swinging red wattles hang at the front of the neck with an orange patch on the back of the neck. The body is black. The cassowary's feet have three large toes, with a spike on each foot up to mm long. The female cassowary is larger and more attractive than the male. Average size of the bird is 1. The cassowary is flightless and is normally quite shy.
However, if the bird is agitated in any way - such as being cornered in a small area, or if any animal including human approaches it's nest - it will lash out violently with its sharp claws. Serious injury can result, so avoidance of these large birds is recommended. If you see a cassowary, do not turn and run away from it.
Instead, face the bird and back away slowly. Do not feed the cassowary either. Insects The Daintree Rainforest is home to millions of insects. To experience the feeding patterns of the insects, simply wander into a cool shady part of the forest without wearing any insect repellent.
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