Okay, Di and I have just fallen about in hysterics in the library reading the news from back home. We are currently wondering whether or not we should be going home…

Also, for all those people that thought we were going to the USA to find some really stupid people - clearly there are plenty of them back home as well…

This, from the front page of www.news.com.au is what amused us so much.

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Dead whale law mooted

From AAP 24jul01

WHALE watching has taken a new twist in South Australia, prompting the state government to consider a review of marine mammal laws.

Since last week hundreds of people have flocked to see white pointer sharks feast on the the carcass of a dead southern right whale near Cape Jervis, about 100km south of Adelaide.

Local boat operators have cashed in, taking paying customers to the site for a closer look.
Some onlookers have even patted the great whites as they circled the whale while others have walked on the carcass of the southern right.

Such behaviour has alarmed the state’s Environment Minister Iain Evans, who said said today he was shocked at the level of disrespect some people had for their own safety.

“I am also appalled by the bizarre behaviour of walking across the back of dead whales or, for that matter, patting a great white shark while it is feeding,” Mr Evans said. “These creatures are not toys.

“In the case of the great white, they can be extremely dangerous and it is clear the state government will need to look at changing the law in order to protect people too stupid to protect themselves.”

At present, marine regulations only prevent people from coming within 100 metres of a live whale.

No such restrictions apply to dead whales and local police have said they are virtually powerless to act.

Mr Evans said he would ask his department to consider a similar exclusion zone for dead whales.

“It may be the only way we can keep sightseers from getting so close that they put themselves in danger of other marine animals,” he said.

Categories: Travel, Odyssey 2001