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Australian Animal Myths:
BIRDS:
Bundoluk are the green and red parrots representing a relationship between Nain and Ngowal. In Dreaming they share a connection with the Warratah plant from where they got their colours. Warratah is significant because it represents magic.Borraboora Budgang are the bringers of coy and if they dance in front of you, swinging their tails and screeching then bad times are coming. Buddawak Burri Bootyau is a night bird which nests in caves and his call means, death and if people enter his territory he will take them away. Gerregang are large birds from the crow family with black and white plumage and yellow eyes and a raucous call. The land is divided into men’s and women’s country depending on topography and vegetation. If a Nain strays into women’s country or a Ngowal into man’s country the gerregang calls out a coy. That is a signal to leave. If a Yaddung is heard, then people are in the right place.
SNAKES:
Snakes often appear in the myths and legends of the Aborigines of Australia. The Rainbow serpent features in the Dreaming stories of many Aboriginal subcultures and is always associated with watercourses such as billabongs, rivers, creeks and lagoons. The serpent is the protector of the land and its people and the source of all life. The serpent regenerates rains and nurtures fertility amongst plants and animals. However the Rainbow serpent can also be a destructive force if it is not properly respected and can send storms and fluids to punish those who transfers the law.
This wall painting located near the town of Kuranda, Queensland shows a snake among may different animals. Snakes were often seen as symbols of death, evil, or treachery may be related to the fact that some of them are poisonous and dangerous.
OTHER REPTILES:
Dirawong (goanna) departed knowledge and protection to the Bundjalung nation (comprising 15 Aboriginal tribes). He shared with them knowledge of medicine, bush foods, astronomy, law and cultural traditions such as dances, body designs and songs. The Dirawong had engaged in a battle with the Rainbow snake when it had misbehaved. At the end of the struggle, the Rainbow snake made it to the ocean and became an island, supposedly New Zealand. The Dirawong laid down facing the sea to guard against its return, the Goanna Headland at Evans Head, NSW, is believed to be the Dirawong’s physical body.
Wagyl is also a snakelike being ho was assigned with creating and protecting rivers, lakes and springs and wildlife (different to Rainbow serpent who created the universe and humans). The Wagyl is believed to have a physical body in Australia made up of the Darling Scarp and Perth in Western Australia. It is believed Wagyl slithered over the land, carved out paths of rivers. When he stopped to rest his body created bays and lakes. His scraped off scales became forests and woodlands while his droppings became piles of rocks.
RIVER MONSTERS:
Muldjewangk exists in the Murray River of South Australia and the Hawkesbury River has an aquatic monster also known as Moolyewonk or mirreeular. Both monsters exist in aboriginal rock art and both are represented in stories as attacking women and children on the river banks and hiding under clumps of floating vegetation and destroying fishing nets and killing those who enter their territory.
FROGS:
The Tiddalik is a giant water holding frog that once drank all the world’s fresh water. It is derived from the Aboriginal people of South Gippsland, Victoria. When everything began to die of thirst, the other creatures devised a plan to make the Tiddalik laugh, releasing all the water in his mouth. All animals failed until the Nabunum, an eel, danced and twisted himself into knots before him. Laughing, Tiddalik released the water, refilling the world’s lakes, swamps and rivers and causing an ensuing flood.
TURTLES:
The Budgial represents common sense and love in aboriginal culture, his shield is there to protect his relationship with other maritime animals. He is also a symbol of the journey, the turtle needs to nest and lay eggs in the sand, the road of parenthood is also challenging. The Dolphin for example is often associated with the human spirit.
MARSUPIALS:
Kangaroos are seen as warriors. They represent the strength of the male, the hunter and protector and the provider.
Echidnas lay their eggs and suckle their young. This represents the feminine aspect of the family. The female is the life giver, represented by the eggs inside the Echidna and the nurturer. The round shape of the echidna symbolises fertility. Two echidnas in artform represent unity and togetherness.
CROCODILES:
Baru the Crocodile is associated with fire, almost like the dragon in China. Yirritja fire designs in art form are compositions of diamond symbolic of the cracked pattern burned into the crocodile skin in the creation era. The interaction of dangerous creatures like crocodiles and stingrays, each of which can inflict pain, is a metaphor for the pain involved in initiation and “men’s business” or “payback” which is a ritual of Aboriginal culture.