whipsnake near the vegetable garden . Milton Jones told me that when he first lived there , thirty years ago , large Mulga Snakes were common – some were even found in the house . These days they are seldom seen ; a testimony to the ravages of the Cane Toad .
Nick , Brodie and I drove to an area known as ‘ the jump up ’ where the track rises from the flat and runs between high mesa-like areas which I have been told are an known for harbouring Northern Death Adders ( Acanthophis praelongus ) and although we did not see any it certainly looked to be ideal habitat , with countless flat rocks and low bushes on loose scree . I would have liked a few days more to look at other locations , but I had certainly filled in my time well . Nick had a laugh when I had to run down another whipsnake in a yard near the house . Not for nothing are these regarded as Australia ’ s fastest snakes and although I caught it finally , I realised , not for the first time , I am getting older !
When I left Nick and Heather it was with gratitude for a great few days ( and nights , with a drink in hand ). I was given a lift to Katherine by the backpackers who were picking up supplies for the farm . From Katherine I caught the Greyhound to Darwin where I stayed at the Mercure Hotel at Darwin Airport . I was gratified that HL Australia had booked me a family room and breakfast , and the next morning I waited for Tom to pick me up so I could discuss the survey with him and compare what I had seen with Darwin Museum records that he had access to . While I was waiting in the reception area , an AFP police vehicle pulled up and two police officers alighted . One of them headed straight to me .
“ NSW snake man smuggling reptiles ,” he said , and although I was obviously innocent of any wrong doing , I still felt a sense of shock . Then he grinned and put out his hand and said , “ Chris , Nev , we met some time back .”
I smiled with relief and started breathing again . Apart from being a police officer , Chris has worked a lot with snakes and crocs and was the man who picked up my big Burmese Python , Bari , when she arrived in Darwin .
Tom was present when it was brought in and was granted a permit to keep it . It is totally tame and a striking animal with its large size and pure white tailtip . Tom and I went over survey records for Victoria River Downs and I noted that the last recorded survey was in 1999 . I enjoyed visiting this wonderful piece of the country and hope to get there again , as I feel there is much more to see and to study . I am indebted to Nick and Heather for their hospitality and friendship , to Tom for his kind help , and to Brodie who reminded me of what it was like to be young again .
Above : Neville with the Black-footed Tree-rat . Below : Brodie and Nick on the bank of the Victoria River . The water level can rise by more than seven metres in the wet .
Tom arrived and we went back to his place , where I was able to spend more time with him and Jas and got to enjoy the company of his pet Dingo and his Black-footed Tree-rat . This species is endangered and Tom ’ s was found in a mop bucket at a building in a national park as a baby . Luckily
48