Leslie Massey
Australia is known for its diverse wildlife, with over 80% of its animal species being unique to the continent. One of these species, the kangaroo, is the most common animal in Australia and even outnumbers humans. In fact, there are almost twice as many kangaroos as there are people in the country, with the kangaroo population estimated to be around 45 million in 2016 and 2017 and projected to reach 60 million in the future. This abundance of kangaroos has led to concerns about the impact on farmland, property, habitats, and human safety, as well as the welfare of the kangaroos themselves due to limited food resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of kangaroos in Australia | 42.5 million in 2019, 50 million in 2017, nearly 45 million in 2016, 27 million in 2010 |
| Comparison to human population in Australia | Nearly double the human population in 2016, 2.3 times the human population in 2023 |
| Impact | Damage to farmland, property, habitats, and risk to human safety; risk of starvation for kangaroos; threat to biodiversity |
| Population control methods | Shooting, commercial harvesting, fertility control, fencing |
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What You'll Learn
Kangaroos outnumber humans in Australia
Kangaroos are the most common animal in Australia, outnumbering humans. In 2016, government figures showed that there were almost 45 million kangaroos, nearly double the human population of Australia. The kangaroo population has continued to grow, with some estimates placing the number at 50 million in 2017 and as high as 60 million in 2023.
This large kangaroo population has led to concerns about the impact on farmland, property, habitats, and human safety. Additionally, an excessive population can lead to a risk of starvation for the kangaroos themselves, as there may not be enough food to sustain them all. As a result, some have suggested controversial methods such as shooting to control the kangaroo population.
While kangaroos are protected in Australia, commercial harvesting is allowed in small numbers, and their meat is sold worldwide. However, the culling of kangaroos has been met with opposition, with some arguing that it is unethical and unnecessary. Associate Professor David Paton, from the University of Adelaide, suggested that Australians should embrace kangaroo meat to make use of the culled animals and reduce waste.
The kangaroo population boom has been attributed to various factors, including environmental ones. For example, high rainfall can increase vegetation and food sources for kangaroos. The presence of the Dingo Fence, one of the longest structures in the world, spanning over 5,600 kilometers, has also been cited as a factor. The fence was built to keep dingoes out of sheep farming areas, providing a protected environment for kangaroos to thrive.
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Emus are faster than Usain Bolt
Emus are the second-fastest running birds on land, reaching speeds of up to 48 kilometres per hour, or 31 miles per hour. This speed is faster than the world's fastest human, Usain Bolt, whose top speed during his record-breaking 100-metre sprint was 28 miles per hour, or 30 miles per hour, depending on the source.
Emus are flightless birds that are native to Australia and can grow to over six feet tall. They are the largest birds in Australia and are known for their speed. While emus are faster than humans, they are slower than ostriches, which can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour, or about 43 miles per hour.
Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who holds the world record for the 100-metre dash, with a time of 9.58 seconds. While Bolt is incredibly fast for a human, there are several animals that can reach much higher speeds. For example, the peregrine falcon can reach speeds of up to 161 miles per hour, more than five times faster than Bolt's top speed.
In addition to the peregrine falcon and the ostrich, several other animals are faster than Usain Bolt. Thoroughbred racehorses can reach top speeds of 55 miles per hour, almost double Bolt's speed. Cheetahs are even faster, with a recorded top speed of 61 miles per hour.
While emus are faster than Usain Bolt, they are slower than several other animals, including ostriches, racehorses, cheetahs, and peregrine falcons. Emus' speed is impressive, especially when compared to the fastest human, but they are outpaced by several other creatures in the animal kingdom.
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Koalas are vulnerable
Koalas, the iconic Australian marsupials, are now listed as an endangered species in parts of eastern Australia, specifically in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. This listing is a result of the significant decline in koala populations, with numbers halving in 20 years. The Australian Koala Foundation reported a 30% drop in the total koala population between 2018 and 2021, with a 41% decline specifically in New South Wales.
The primary threats to koala populations include rampant bushfires, land clearing, drought, disease, car strikes, and dog attacks. The World Wildlife Fund Australia highlighted that land clearing has increased 13-fold in New South Wales since the government weakened native vegetation laws in 2016. The impacts of climate change, including heatwaves and lack of water, have also contributed to the decline.
In recognition of these threats, the Queensland Government upgraded all koalas to vulnerable status in 2015, affording them greater protection from habitat clearing and other harmful activities. This followed earlier efforts by the NSW Government, which listed the koala as 'Rare and Vulnerable' in 1992, and later reaffirmed this status under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Despite these measures, koala populations have continued to decline, leading to their recent classification as endangered.
The Australian Koala Foundation and conservation groups have criticized the government for not taking sufficient action to protect koalas and for failing to list them as endangered in Victoria and South Australia. They have called for stronger laws and incentives to protect koala habitats and prevent their extinction. The government has responded by increasing protection measures and providing conservation funding, but the future of koala populations remains uncertain without urgent and sustained intervention.
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Wombats use their butts to protect themselves
Kangaroos are the most common animal in Australia, outnumbering humans. Wombats, which are found in southeastern Australia and Tasmania, are also native to the country. These marsupials have a unique way of protecting themselves from predators—using their butts!
Wombats have a powerful backside made up of four fused plates surrounded by cartilage, fat, skin, and fur. When threatened, they will run into their burrows and use their rumps to block the entrance, preventing predators from entering and protecting themselves. This behaviour is called "plugging" their burrows. The hard cartilage in their rumps helps absorb any damage inflicted by an attacker, and their strong kicking ability further deters predators.
Alyce Swinbourne, an expert in wombat bottoms from the University of Adelaide, notes that wombats are quite hardy. The strength of their rumps, combined with their kicking ability, makes them formidable opponents for potential predators. A dingo bite, for example, may harm a wombat but is unlikely to kill it due to its sturdy rump.
Wombat bottoms are not just for defence; they also play a crucial role in social interactions and mating rituals. Juveniles learn to use their rumps for defence from their mothers, who will bite them, causing the young wombats to back into them using their rumps. Play fighting with other juveniles involves backing up and kicking with their back feet, skills that can later be used in actual fighting. Adult wombats also engage in bum-biting as a form of flirtation, with males and females chasing and biting each other's rumps during courtship.
So, the next time you see a wombat's cute and cuddly backside, remember that it's not just for show—it's a powerful tool for protection, socialisation, and reproduction!
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Echidnas are Australia's most widespread native mammal
Echidnas, or more specifically, short-beaked echidnas, are Australia's most widespread native mammal. They are found across most of Australia, from the arid zone to rainforests, coastal margins, tropics, and snowy regions. They are even-toed, slow-moving, and well-camouflaged, with dark fur hidden beneath their spines. They are covered in fur and spines, with a distinctive snout and strong front limbs and claws, which they use to burrow and dig. Echidnas are good swimmers and can cross rivers and beaches with their snouts in the air. They are long-lived and can survive for 40 years or more in the wild.
Echidnas are "ecosystem engineers", constantly digging and moving soil. They are likely keystone species in the ecosystem health in Australia, due to their contribution to bioturbation, or the reworking of soils through their digging activity. It is estimated that a single echidna will move up to 204 cubic metres of soil per year. They are most commonly found in forested areas with abundant termite-filled fallen logs. In agricultural areas, they are typically found in uncleared scrub, grassland, arid areas, and the outer suburbs of cities.
Echidnas are the only living group of mammals that lay eggs. They are monotremes, along with platypuses, and have multiple sex chromosomes. They have a low body temperature, which rarely exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, even when they are not hibernating. They have a significant tolerance for high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen, which helps them survive underground. They have electroreceptors in their skin and snout that help them detect their surroundings and prey.
Echidnas are shy and infrequently seen, but they are not endangered. They are found in most habitats across Australia, including urban outskirts, coastal forests, and dry inland areas. They are especially widespread in Tasmania, where the colder climate means they have longer fur to survive the cold. They are also found in eastern New Guinea, where they are known as "mungwe" in some local languages.
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Frequently asked questions
Kangaroos outnumber humans in Australia. Government figures from 2016 show there were almost 45 million kangaroos, nearly double the human population of Australia.
The kangaroo population is so large partly due to the Dingo Fence, one of the longest fences in the world, which was built to keep dingoes out so British settlers could farm sheep.
Australia is home to many unique animals, including koalas, wombats, emus, echidnas, dingoes, cassowaries, and platypuses.
