Stingray 'a long way from home' spotted swimming on busy Aussie street
While some were shocked to see the stingray, others joked 'of course' it was something that would happen in Cairns.
Walking down the street near your local shops there are a few normal things you'd expect to see — but a stingray is not one of them.
Yet shockingly, Cairns locals spotted a small stingray swimming along a busy road in the city on Tuesday after heavy rain caused minor flooding in the area. "Just your average sighting outside our Cairns store this morning," Backpacker Deals shared online after staff saw the marine animal outside their shop on the Esplanade.
Aussies say this could 'only' happen in Cairns
Since being shared on Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of people have watched in complete surprise at the rare sight. "That guy is a long way from home," one said.
While many others said "of course" this happened in Cairns. "Only in Cairns," an Aussie said, with others sharing the same response.
A few claimed to have been there at the time, saying the "poor" swimmer was found and saved. "Lol I was there for that. I’m glad it was found and looked after — the stingray is fine! Cute little thing," a local declared — although this has not yet been confirmed.
Not the first time a stingray seen near shops
Despite this being somewhat of a rare sight in a city street, it is not the first time people have been stunned to see a stingray in urban areas. In 2023, a British expat shopping at the Sunshine Plaza in Queensland was in disbelief after spotting a stingray barely visible in the creek outside the shopping centre.
"I mean I know they exist in Australia, but in my mind, they're in the wild or the zoo… not right by where I buy my shoes," Jordana told Yahoo News Australia at the time. "In the UK the most outrageous animal I would see is a squirrel or a pigeon."
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What to do if you see a stingray needing help
Jaelen Myers, a PhD student in Marine Biology at James Cook University with a focus on stingrays, previously told Yahoo that unless you have the right training and appropriate protective coverings for your hands, it is best to wait for the tide to do its thing or call an expert.
The stingray's spine, or barb, is located towards the base of the tail and is sharp as well as potentially venomous. Myer says a minor injury from a barb is painful but relatively harmless in many cases.
If you spot an injured marine animal in Queensland, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitated group or Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Similar services are available state by state Australia-wide.
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