{"id":654629,"date":"2026-03-14T08:12:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T08:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654629\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T08:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T08:12:21","slug":"tourist-group-attempts-to-intervene-as-heartbreaking-scene-unfolds-on-aussie-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654629\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourist group attempts to intervene as &#8216;heartbreaking&#8217; scene unfolds on Aussie coast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"Three ravens surrounding a baby ringtail possum on the west side of Lakes Entrance.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-none lg:rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/849c3220-1dae-11f1-aefe-076a4093e0cc.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A group of tourists watched on as a baby ringtail possum was surrounded by ravens. Source: Lonsdale Eco Cruises<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Out on the water, a tourist boat was forced to make the tough decision and turn away from a \u201cheartbreaking\u201d situation on land just metres away.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Earlier this month, the crew from Lonsdale Eco Cruises had ventured to the remote western side of <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/incredibly-lucky-moment-caught-on-camera-in-broad-daylight-very-fast-052845583.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Lakes Entrance;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Lakes Entrance&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lakes Entrance<\/a>, a popular <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/vic\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:Victorian;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Victorian&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victorian<\/a> holiday destination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The team is famous for taking its guests to see wild scenes that most people would only see in nature documentaries, like <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/excited-tourists-watch-nature-documentary-unfold-as-predator-hunts-off-aussie-coast-005940348.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:seals attacking squid;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;seals attacking squid&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">seals attacking squid <\/a>or <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/boat-full-of-tourists-in-awe-after-incredible-discovery-off-aussie-coast-started-swimming-towards-us-234408238.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:lost reptiles out at sea.;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lost reptiles out at sea.&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lost reptiles out at sea.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But on the weekend, they were reminded that nature can be cruel.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Two ravens watch a baby ringtail possum on the west side of Lakes Entrance.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1077\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-none lg:rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fa7bd310-1dae-11f1-bbff-ec022490121a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The boat crew sounded their horn to try and distract the ravens. Source: Lonsdale Eco Cruises<\/p>\n<p>Why crew was unable to help baby possum<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Initially, it appeared a tiny creature had been surrounded by a \u201cmurder of crows\u201d, but upon closer inspection, they realised it was an equally daunting and visually similar \u201cconspiracy of ravens\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mel Fredericks, who was running the tour, explained they quickly realised they were taunting a baby ringtail possum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The animal was facing anything but a quick death, but there was no way for the crew to moor the boat and intervene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt was heartbreaking,\u201d Mel told Yahoo News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThere were about five or six of them grabbing him by the tail and flicking him around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cBut we couldn\u2019t get near them because of the rock and timber walls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The possum on its own on the sand.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1077\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-none lg:rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/277e0a90-1daf-11f1-bffc-414424d9fb81.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The possum took its chance and ran from the ravens. Source: Lonsdale Eco Cruises<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The possum seeking shelter under driftwood.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1077\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-none lg:rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/45047b80-1daf-11f1-bfe7-aee572290683.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The tiny creature sheltered under a piece of driftwood and then ran towards a tree. Source: Lonsdale Eco Cruises<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">So the crew did the only thing they could and tried to distract the birds from taunting the tiny marsupial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe have a big truck horn on our boat, so we beeped that a few times, and it scared them,\u201d Fredericks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The tourists onboard the boat were &#8220;in awe&#8221; as the possum &#8220;put up a good fight&#8221;, jumping across the sand, and trying to avoid the birds&#8217; beaks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After the possum escaped to a nearby tree, they turned the boat around and headed away from the harrowing situation. When they returned later in the day, there was no sign of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt is nature, so I took a few photos. But we didn\u2019t hang around, I just thought hopefully it\u2019s escaped,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cBut it is nice to know we have ringtail possums in this coastal area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Do you have a story tip? Email: <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/mailto:newsroomau@yahoonews.com\" data-ylk=\"slk:newsroomau@yahoonews.com;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;newsroomau@yahoonews.com&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>You can also follow us on <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/YahooNewsAu\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Facebook;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Facebook&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yahoonewsau\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Instagram;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;10&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \"><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@yahooaustralia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:TikTok;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;TikTok&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \"><strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YahooNewsAU\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Twitter;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;12&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Twitter&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \"><strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a><strong> and <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:13;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@yahooau\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:YouTube;cpos:13;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;13&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;YouTube&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" class=\"link \"><strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A group of tourists watched on as a baby ringtail possum was surrounded by ravens. Source: Lonsdale Eco&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":654630,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[27],"tags":[216186,271992,159,67,132,68,837],"class_list":["post-654629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-lonsdale-eco-cruises","tag-ringtail-possum","tag-science","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-wildlife"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116226526350504465","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=654629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/654630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}