Australia is blessed with a diverse range of animals and wildlife. Australia is also the only continent that is occupied by all three classes of mammals (i.e. monotremes, marsupials and placentals). Many animals that inhabit the continent are unique to Australia, this means that you cannot see them anywhere else in the world!

Australia is particularly famous for its marsupials and monotremes. These animals are able to survive in Australia because there are no natural predators on this isolated continent. Marsupials compose the largest group of mammals in Australia, they are special mammals that raise their young in a pouch and most of the 140 marsupial species are found only in Australia, these animals include the koalas, wombats, wallabies, gliders, possums, kangaroos, bilbies, bandicoots, numbats, Tasmanian devils and the marsupial moles. As for the monotremes, they are unique because they are the only mammals that lay eggs, animals that you can find that fall into this category are the platypuses and the echidnas, these are the two particularly unique species found in Australia. 

You can find reptiles such as the monitor lizards, the frilled-necked lizards, poisonous snakes and crocodiles. Australia is also home to 350 species of unique birds, you are able to find birds such as cockatoos, kookaburras, the Australian magpies, bowerbirds, lyrebirds and emus. There are also numerous insect and sea-life species living in Australia.

Unfortunately, many unique native Australian species have become extinct and many others are currently endangered. This is why great efforts are made to protect these species. There are currently laws in place aimed to save and protect Australian animals and particularly the endangered species. There is also the establishment of more than 500 protected national parks and about 2700 conservation areas across Australia.

If you are coming to Australia, we would recommend that you take some time to see these amazing Australian animals. You can do so by visiting Australian zoos and wildlife parks, you can usually find them in most urban cities. You are able to see, receive education about and may even be able to take part in special public events, exhibitions and tours that are centred around these unique Australian animals in places such as the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, the Healesville Sanctuary and the Melbourne Zoo in Victoria, the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, the Monarto Zoological Park in South Australia, The Adelaide Zoo, and the Cleland Wildlife Park just outside of Adelaide.

In some Australian zoos, you may even have the opportunity to go behind the scene to experience life as a zoo keeper, you may go on safaris and some zoos will even give its visitors the opportunity to get close and personal with its animals! This means that you may be able to swim with seals, ride a camel and you may even be able to hold and take photos with a cute little baby wombat or a cuddly koala! For those more adventurous travellers, you may even consider going out by yourself or going on specialised outdoor tours to observe these animals in their natural habitat.