Do you know that, in Australia, most of the unique Australian animals live in the south of the country where the weather is cool? Via this post, you’ll learn their habits and places to see unique animals in South Australia.
1. Kangaroo
It would certainly be remiss if kangaroos weren’t at the top of this “unique animals South Australia” list. This creature is also the national animal of Australia. You’ll see it on the country’s coat of arms, besides the golden wattle flower and the emu.
Where to see it in Australia?
- Kangaroo Island in South Australia
- Maria Island National Park in Tasmania
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland
- Lucky Bay in Western Australia
- Narawntapu National Park in Tasmania
- Woodlands Historical Park in Melbourne
2. Fairy Penguin – Unique Animals South Australia
These slate-blue birds are the smallest penguin species, weighing 2.5 pounds and standing less than a foot tall. Their favorite foods are small squid, sardines, anchovies, and krill. They love coastal waters so much that they spend at least 18 hours a day there.
As these blue penguins settle into their roosts for the night, then you’ll have a unique after-dark encounter with them.
Where to see fairy penguins in Australia?
- On beaches of Freycinet National Park in Tasmania
- Penguin Parade at Philip Island Nature Parks in Victoria
- SeaWorld, Gold Coast in Queensland
- Penguin Island in Western Australia
- Shore Beach, Manly in New South Wales
3. Koala
Like the kangaroo, Koala is another worldwide symbol of Australia. To protect the newborn, this marsupial keeps them in her pouch for about six months after birth. As a result, the young joey prefers to stick close to its mother after emerging.
Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves, which are indeed poisonous for many animals. Their specially adapted diet, on the other hand, leaves little competition for food. The most significant threat to koalas is habitat loss due to bushfires and land clearing.
Where to see koalas in Australia?
- Tucki Tucki Nature Reserve in New South Wales
- Tidbinbilla in Canberra
- Kangaroo Island in South Australia
- Kennett River in Victoria
- Port Stephens in Sydney
4. Quoll – Unique Animals South Australia
Just around the size of small domestic cats, but surprisingly, quolls are carnivorous marsupials species. There are many kinds of quolls in Australia such as spotted-tail quoll, tiger quolls, eastern quolls (which are in danger), etc.
Where to see quolls in Australia?
- Actually, you might see spotted-tailed quolls in a variety of habitats, such as rainforests, coastal heathlands, and woodlands
- Otherwise, you can visit other quoll species at a conservation sanctuary close to Cradle Mountain
5. Wallaby
In fact, wallabies are members of the Macropodidae family, which gets its name from the Greek word for “big foot.” These pouched mammals are most active at dusk, searching for food for herbs and grasses. Especially, they have a naturally unique adaption that they can drink seawater to survive if there’s no fresh water.
Where to see wallabies in Australia?
- Kangaroo Island in Southern Australia
- Magnetic Island on the North Queensland beach
- Freycinet National Park in Tasmania
- MacDonnell ranges at Alice Springs in Nothern Territory
- Australian Botanic Garden in Canberra
6. Echidna – Unique Animals South Australia
Apart from platypuses, echidnas are basically the only mammals that lay eggs. Their offspring are known as puggles. When scared, they burrow into the ground and curl up into a ball, exposing only their sharp spines.
Where to see echidnas in Australia?
- Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park in Western Sydney
- Kangaroo Island in South Australia
- Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges’ Healesville Sanctuary in Melbourne
- Murramarang National Park in New South Wales
- Taronga Zoo in Sydney
7. Wombat
In fact, the wombat is the closest relative to koalas. They use their strong feet and claws to dig multi-chambered holes in the ground called warrens. These tunnels are the emergency housing for animals escaping bushfires, varying from wallabies to fairy penguins.
Where to see wombats in Australia?
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in the Tasmanian World Heritage Wilderness Area
- Open Range Wildlife Parks in South Australia
- Maria Island in Tasmania
- Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales
- Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria
8. Tasmanian Devil – Unique Animals South Australia
After the 1936 extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, the Tasmanian devil finally has become the world’s biggest carnivorous marsupial. It is also recognized for its fierce territoriality, guttural roar, and strong bite. Due to the breeding program, wildlife sanctuaries in Australia will care for orphaned newborns and act to bring back these endangered animals into the wild.
Where to see Tasmanian devils in Australia?
- Tasmanian Devil Unzoo
- Wings Wildlife Park
- Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania
- Tasmanian Devils @ Cradle
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania
9. Platypus
With a duck-shaped bill, otter-like feet, and a beaver-like tail, this 100-million-year-old animal baffled naturalists when it was found. Despite being thought to be a hoax at first, the platypus has since become a vital research topic in evolutionary biology.
In the 1920s, conservationists brought the platypus to the refuge since they worried about the animal’s decreasing inhabitants on the mainland, where they were massively hunted for their fur.
Where to see the platypus in Australia?
- Berrima at Southern Highlands in NSW
- Jenolan Caves Blue Lake near Sydney
- Bombala Platypus Reserve in NSW
- Canopy Treehouses in Queensland
- Mole Creek in Tasmania
10. Pademelons – Unique Animals South Australia
Pademelons are tinier than kangaroos and wallabies, but they share many characteristics, including the ability to hop. These herbivores eat grasses, herbs, and nectar-bearing flowers.
Where to see pademelons in Australia?
- Tasmanian pademelons mainly live in Tasmania and throughout south-eastern Australia
- Otherwise, you can come to Nightcap National Park near Byron Bay to see them
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