So long as you are 10m from the shore you are safe from crocs. Photo / via Facebook
So long as you are 10m from the shore you are safe from crocs. Photo / via Facebook
A New Zealand comedian is making waves in Australia after poking fun at Queensland and its various deadly animals through a hilarious mock tourism ad for Australia.
Kiwi Chris Drabble uploaded a video saying that there was "no prettier place to perish than Queensland", in which he jokes about crocodiles, box jellyfish, snakes and spiders.
"Welcome to North Queensland Australia. Fancy a swim in a tropic paradise?" Chris says in the video.
"You can't do that here because there's crocodiles. Oh, but don't worry, they've made a sign."
He goes on to mock Queensland's seemingly relaxed approach to warning tourists about the potential dangers of swimming at the beach.
There’s no prettier place to perish than Queensland, Australia. 🐊
Posted by Chris Drabble on Thursday, 29 November 2018
"You'd think there'd be signs everywhere in this tourist hotspot, right? Nah, there's just one," he said.
"And some beaches don't even have any because they mainly use word of mouth around here."
Tourists are often advised to stay at least 10m back from the water's edge, which Chris claims makes perfect sense because "no crocodile is going to walk 11m for a meal".
He goes on to make fun of the nicknames Aussies have adopted to describe various deadly creatures, such as "stingers" and "salties".
"As a bonus, they've also got 'stingers'. Doesn't sound too bad though, right," the comedian says.
"Well actually 'stingers' is just Australian slang for 'the most deadly marine animal known to mankind'.
"But you know, 'stingers' is a good name too."
Welcome to North Queensland Australia. Photo / via Facebook
He says using the term "stingers" to describe box jellyfish is the same as calling crocodiles "nibblers" but adds that there is already an equally strange nickname for crocs.
"They've taken the term 'saltwater crocodiles', dispensed the more integral part of the term — you know, 'crocodiles' — to leave a vague colloquialism that could be used to describe literally any marine animal," he says.
"So if you're paddling in the shallows and a local notifies you that there's some 'salties' round, don't just assume he's talking about dolphins or some form of innocuous mollusc because, actually, he's referring to giant, flesh-eating reptiles."
Chris briefly mentions the array of deadly snakes and spiders Queensland has to offer before giving a stern warning about Australia's very own "velociraptor" — the cassowary.
Chris Drabble pokes fun at the nickname for crocodiles in Queensland. Photo / via Facebook
"The best part is you'll only need to pay a one-way fare because, chances are, you won't return," he says.
'You'll only need a one-way ticket. Photo / via Facebook
The video was posted on Friday and has already racked up over 1.3 million views and 39,000 shares, with social media users loving his lighthearted jabs at Aussies.
