One of the most exciting and interesting things you will see when you visit Australia is the diverse wildlife that resides there. Whether it be in the outback, on the Great Barrier Reef, or in one of the many protected wildlife reserves or sanctuaries, the wildlife that you encounter will amaze you, and it will be an experience you will never forget. Don’t forget you camera, because you’ll want to share these photos with all your friends!
When most people think of Australian wildlife, they think of Kangaroos. While it is true there are an abundance of kangaroos in Australia, there are also many different species of land animals that call the Australian outback home. How about the Koala, the Dingo or the Tasmanian devil? The diversity of land animals in Australia is second to none. Even better, most of the land animals are endemic to Australia (they only occur there), so nowhere else in thee world will you see a red kangaroo, a spotted quoil or a southern hairy-nosed wombat!
There are over 800 species of birds and other flying creatures that call Australia home. Did you know that the Emu, which
is native to Australia, is the second largest bird in the world, second only to the ostrich? This is just one example of the many interesting birds that you will find in Australia. Birds are a little harder to find in the outback, because they like to hide in trees and out of sight of tourists, but if you look hard enough or head to one of the numerous wildlife sanctuaries and take a guided tour, you might be able to spot a few.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to many different species of marine animals. Not only are there turtles, dolphins, whales and numerous fish, there are actually a wide variety of species that only occur on the Great Barrier Reef, and not anywhere else in the world. The best way to see these creatures is to go scuba diving or go for a tour in a glass bottom boat. It is important not to forget to check out the surrounding coastline for even more interesting species, like the Saltwater crocodile, the largest species of crocodile in the world.
No matter what region of Australia you travel to, you are sure to find some interesting species of wildlife that you will not find anywhere else in the world.