When I was a kid out bush with my Dad, he told me if we ever saw a goanna that we should quickly lie down on the ground because if we were standing up, the goanna would think we were trees and try to climb up the tree and the claws would rip you to bits.
The thought of getting ripped to bits had me concerned, so I was always on the lookout for goannas, and a few times was fooled by my Dad calling out "Goanna!", and having a chuckle as he picked me up and dusted me off.
I think there is some truth too the tree story.
Back in the day I was driving a semi trailer in the back blocks of Western Australia, early morning about 5am . I came across a beautiful large 5 foot "racehorse" goanna just sitting on my side of the road. I decided to stop and get him off of the road. Suitably attired, hat , gloves and a leather apron I happened to have in the truck. I grabbed my brand new broom ( used for sweeping cement from the tank after loading).
I proceeded to try and push him to the edge of the road without success. He eventually ran up the broom handle, I managed to let go before he got to me.
Well he was not going to let go of that broom, so I dragged goanna and broom to the bush and had to leave the broom there with him, they had become inseparable !
Cost me a new broom but saved him from becoming road kill.
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