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Australia is a megadiverse country with a wide variety of climates and landscapes that are suitable for a large range of animals. The country is home to an extraordinarily high number of plant and animal species, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 species, of which about 100,000 have been described. Australia's unique fauna includes a large variety of endemic animals, with high levels of endemism among its birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. The country's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique climate and soil conditions have contributed to this diversity. Animal farming is also a significant part of Australia's economy and agriculture, providing various products and creating job opportunities.
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Farmed animals
Animal farming in Australia plays a significant role in the country's agricultural industry, providing jobs, food, and other products to the population. The most common type of animal farming in Australia is cattle farming, with large-scale beef and dairy production occurring mainly in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
Sheep farms, which produce meat and wool, are prevalent in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. In addition to cattle and sheep, goats are also commonly farmed in Australia.
Poultry farming is another important aspect of animal agriculture in Australia. Chickens and ducks are reared for their meat and eggs, with modern breeds of chickens being selectively bred to grow extremely fast, reaching slaughter weight within 5-8 weeks. This practice raises concerns about animal welfare, with chickens suffering from the strain of rapid growth.
Pig farming is also prevalent in Australia, but it has been criticized for its treatment of mother pigs, who are often confined in crates, and piglets, who undergo painful procedures like teeth and tail cutting and castration.
Exotic animal farming is also practised in Australia, with alpacas and llamas being popular for their wool. Deer and ostrich farming are also common, with deer providing antlers and hides and ostriches yielding feathers and meat. Rabbit farming is relatively common, with rabbits utilized for meat, fur, and manure.
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Wildlife
Australia is a megadiverse country with an extraordinarily high number of plant and animal species. It is estimated that there are between 200,000 and 300,000 animal and plant species in Australia, about 100,000 of which have been described. The fauna of Australia consists of a large variety of animals, with about 46% of birds, 69% of mammals, 94% of amphibians, and 93% of reptiles being endemic to the continent.
This high level of endemism is due to the continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and the effects of a unique pattern of climate change on the soil and flora over geological time. Australia has almost 400 mammal species and about 140 species of marsupials. Marsupials are a group of mammals that raise their young in a pouch, including macropods, possums, and dasyuromorphs. Marsupials occupy many of the ecological niches that placental animals occupy elsewhere in the world.
Australia is home to two of the five known extant species of monotremes, which are mammals that lay eggs. The platypus and the short-beaked echidna are the world's only egg-laying mammals, and they can be found in Australia. The platypus is a venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed amphibious mammal that lives in the rivers, lakes, and creeks of eastern Australia. It has a beaver-like tail that is used to store fat, rather than for swimming. The echidna is a spiky animal that resembles a cross between a hedgehog and an anteater.
In addition to its unique mammal species, Australia is also home to a diverse range of birds. About half of the bird species in Australia are endemic to the continent, including the kookaburra, the emu, and the rainbow lorikeet, a colourful parrot with a red beak and multicoloured plumage. Australia is also a great place to spot whales, with humpback and southern right whales migrating along the country's coasts between May and November.
The diverse environments of Australia, from the Tropical Zone to the Eremian Zone, are home to a variety of animal species. The Tropical Zone includes the rainforests of the mountainous northeast, where tree kangaroos and bird-wing butterflies can be found. The Eremian Zone, on the other hand, is characterised by arid conditions and irregular rainfall, and is home to species such as the marsupial mole and the water-holding frog.
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Endangered species
Australia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with many of its animals found nowhere else. However, it is facing an extinction crisis. The country has lost more biodiversity than any other developed nation in the past 200 years. Since European settlement, there has been widespread habitat destruction and degradation, and the introduction of non-native predators such as cats and foxes, causing more than 100 endemic species to go extinct.
According to the IUCN Red List of endangered species, Australia has 86 animal species that are considered Critically Endangered. A species is considered Critically Endangered if it meets certain criteria, such as a reduction in population of 90% within a decade, a severely limited population range, or a population of fewer than 50 individuals.
Some of Australia's endangered species include:
- Koalas: They are a flagship species, meaning that if they are protected, the habitat of hundreds of other plants and animals is also protected. Koalas have been hit hard in recent years due to severe bushfires and droughts, and persistent habitat loss from land clearing.
- Swift Parrots: The main threats facing swift parrots include habitat loss, predation by other species, and the increasing impacts of climate change.
- Tasmanian Devils: Once abundant on mainland Australia, they are now only found in Tasmania. They are the largest living carnivorous marsupials, despite being only the size of a small dog. The species is listed as endangered, with a decreasing population. The main threat is a disease called devil facial tumor disease, a cancerous and highly contagious disease that is fatal.
- Numbats: This small to medium-sized marsupial is the faunal emblem of Western Australia. They survive in two naturally occurring populations in the southwest of Western Australia, with other reintroduced populations in protected reserves in New South Wales and South Australia. Their termite-only diet means they are active during the day, leaving them vulnerable to predators such as feral cats, foxes, dingoes, and birds of prey at night.
- Mountain Pygmy-Possums: These tiny possums, not much bigger than mice, are only found in alpine and sub-alpine regions of southern Victoria and around Mt Kosciuszko in New South Wales. They are vulnerable to climate change, as they depend on cooler habitats.
- Woylies: Also known as brush-tailed bettongs, these rabbit-sized marsupials are extremely rare and only found in Australia. They play an important role in the desert ecosystem by dispersing fungal spores that help native plants grow.
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Factory farming
In Australia, factory farming is a significant contributor to climate change, with the country's vast livestock sector emitting greenhouse gases such as methane. The industry also causes habitat destruction, with large areas of forests being cleared for grazing and feed production. While each state and territory has animal cruelty legislation, there are exemptions for farmed animals, and the practice of intensive farming has largely been invisible to Australian consumers.
However, there is a growing movement among consumers and experts calling for change. Many Australians support laws that would ensure farmed animals have access to the outdoors, companions, natural materials, and adequate space. Additionally, organizations like World Animal Protection are working to raise awareness about the suffering of animals in factory farms and live export trades, advocating for a transition to a high-welfare food system.
The shift towards factory farming in Australia is also evident in the changing landscape of animal agriculture. While the number of chicken and pig farms has decreased, the production of meat from these animals has increased significantly, indicating a concentration of animals in the hands of a few large corporations. This has resulted in steep increases in chicken and pig meat production over the years, with a corresponding decrease in the number of producers.
Overall, factory farming in Australia has led to concerns about animal welfare, environmental degradation, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There is a growing recognition of these issues, and efforts are being made to transition towards more sustainable and humane practices in the country's food system.
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Exotic animals
Australia is home to a diverse range of exotic animals, some of which are unique to the continent. The country's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique climate and soil conditions have contributed to the development of its distinct fauna. Here is some information about exotic animals that are raised in Australia:
Marsupials
Marsupials are a group of mammals that raise their young in a pouch and include wombats, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and possums. Australia has about 50 million kangaroos and around 55 different species, including tree kangaroos. They are the world's largest marsupial and are surprisingly great swimmers. Koalas, on the other hand, are known for their lazy lifestyle, sleeping up to 18-20 hours a day and eating up to 1 kilogram of eucalyptus leaves daily. Wombats, Australia's second-largest marsupial, can reach speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour despite their rotund appearance.
Monotremes
Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs, and Australia is home to two of the world's five known extant species: the platypus and the echidna. The platypus, found in eastern Australia, is a venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed mammal with webbed feet and a beaver-like tail used for storing fat. The echidna, resembling a cross between a hedgehog and an anteater, is the other monotreme species found in Australia.
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is an endangered marsupial native to the island of Tasmania. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial, with powerful jaws and teeth, and carries its young in its pouch for up to four months.
Birds
Australia boasts a diverse range of bird species, including colourful parrots (with 56 types), the laughing kookaburra, and the planet's smallest penguin. The emu and cassowary are among the world's largest and heaviest birds.
Exotic Farmed Animals
Australia also raises a variety of exotic animals for fur, meat, and other products. Alpacas and llamas are farmed for their wool, deer are raised for their antlers and hides, and ostriches are farmed for their feathers and meat. Rabbit farming is also common, with rabbits used for meat, fur, and manure.
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Frequently asked questions
Cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, alpacas, llamas, deer, ostriches, and rabbits are all commonly farmed in Australia.
Australia is home to many unique species, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, kookaburras, emus, quokkas, dingoes, and crocodiles.
Zoos and wildlife sanctuaries in Australia typically feature native species such as koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils, as well as exotic animals like lions, tigers, and bears.
