Lyla Lindsey
Australia is home to a diverse range of animals, some of which are unique to the continent. Among these native species, the red kangaroo stands out as the largest terrestrial mammal, with adult males, or Big Reds, growing up to 1.8 metres tall and weighing up to 90 kg. However, the title of the tallest animal in Australia goes to Forest, a male giraffe residing at Australia Zoo in Queensland. Forest has been crowned the tallest living giraffe by Guinness World Records, standing at an impressive height of 5.7 metres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Forest |
| Species | Giraffe |
| Sex | Male |
| Height | 5.7 metres |
| Residence | Australia Zoo, Beerwah, Queensland's Sunshine Coast |
| Ownership | Irwin Family |
| Age | 12 years old |
| Number of calves | 12 calves with a 13th on the way |
| Number of girlfriends | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
The tallest animal in Australia is a giraffe
Giraffes are considered the tallest animals in the world, so it is no surprise that they are also the tallest in Australia. However, you won't find any wild giraffes roaming the Australian landscape—the only place you can see these tall mammals in Australia is at the Australia Zoo.
The tallest native animal to Australia is the red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus). The average red kangaroo stands approximately 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall to the top of the head in upright posture. However, large mature males can stand at over 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 inches) tall, with the largest confirmed one having been around 2.1 m (6 ft 11 inches) tall.
While giraffes are not native to Australia, they are certainly a sight to behold at the Australia Zoo. These gentle giants can grow to be almost six metres tall and are known as the "skyscrapers of the African savanna." They are very social creatures and are often spotted in groups called "towers."
Giraffes are considered vulnerable to extinction, with habitat destruction, fragmentation, and poaching posing significant threats to their survival. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring the survival of these magnificent creatures for future generations to admire.
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The tallest native animal in Australia is the red kangaroo
Australia is a megadiverse country with a high number of plant and animal species. The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, excluding more fertile areas such as southern Western Australia and the eastern and southeastern coasts.
The red kangaroo is an abundant species and has benefited from agriculture and man-made waterholes. However, competition with livestock and rabbits poses a threat. They are sometimes shot by farmers as pests, although permits are required in certain states. The kangaroo industry is worth about A$270 million annually and employs over 4,000 people.
Red kangaroos can grow to impressive sizes, with males reaching a head-and-body length of 1.3–1.6 m, and their tails adding a further 1.2 m. Adult males, known as "Big Reds", can weigh up to 90 kg. The largest confirmed red kangaroo was around 2.1 m tall and weighed 91 kg.
The red kangaroo is protected by legislation, but its population is large enough to allow for regulated harvesting of its hide and meat. Hunting and commercial harvesting are controlled by nationally approved management plans, which aim to maintain sustainable populations.
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The emu is the tallest bird in Australia
The emu is the second tallest bird in the world, exceeded only by the ostrich. It can grow up to 1.9 metres (6 feet 3 inches) in height, or even 150 to 190 centimetres (59 to 75 inches) according to some sources. The emu has soft, brown feathers, a long neck, and long legs. It is a robust bipedal runner that can travel great distances and sprint at 48 kilometres per hour (30 miles per hour).
Emus are nearly fully grown at one year and may breed at 20 months. They are omnivorous and forage on a variety of plants and insects. They can go for weeks without eating and drink infrequently, but when the opportunity arises, they take in copious amounts of fresh water. Emus are known to move hundreds of kilometres, sometimes at rates of 15 to 25 kilometres per day, in search of suitable living conditions.
The emu is also unusual in its domestic life. After the female emu lays a dozen or so green eggs, she leaves the male to incubate them on his own. The male incubates the eggs for 55 days without drinking, feeding, defecating, or leaving the nest. During this time, eggs often roll out of the nest and are pulled back in by the male. Newly hatched chicks are cream-coloured with dark brown stripes and are looked after by the male, with no contribution from the female.
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Dingos are the biggest carnivorous mammals in Australia
Australia is home to a diverse range of animals, with many unique species found only on this continent. Among these, dingoes stand out as the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals native to the country. While they may resemble domestic dogs, dingoes possess several distinct features and adaptations that set them apart.
Dingoes, scientific name Canis familiaris, have inhabited Australia for approximately 4,000 years. They are widely distributed across the Australian mainland, favoring woodland and grassland habitats bordering forests with access to water. Notably, dingoes have never naturally occurred in Tasmania. Their presence in various ecosystems has influenced other populations, possibly contributing to the extinction of the mainland Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) through competition for food.
As carnivores, dingoes primarily feed on small mammals, including rabbits, kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats. Their diet can be opportunistic, including birds, reptiles, insects, and even domestic animals or livestock when native prey is scarce. This behavior has made them unpopular with farmers and pastoralists. In certain regions, such as Central Australia, rabbits have become a staple in their diet, along with cattle carcasses during droughts.
Dingoes are distinguishable from domestic dogs by their longer muzzles, larger pointed ears, and sharper teeth. Their coats vary, with a single layer in the tropical north and a thick double layer in the colder southern mountains. The tail is typically flattish and tapering, carried low, and their gait is characterized by the rear foot stepping in line with the front foot. While dingoes are generally solitary hunters, they will form packs of up to twelve individuals when hunting larger prey.
In terms of size, dingoes are smaller than the red kangaroo, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia. Male red kangaroos can stand over 1.8 meters tall, with a head-and-body length of up to 1.6 meters, and weigh up to 90 kilograms. Dingoes, on the other hand, typically weigh less and have a smaller overall stature, though they possess powerful jaws and longer canine teeth than domestic dogs.
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Wombats can weigh as much as a 10-year-old child
The red kangaroo is the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, with large mature males capable of standing over 1.8 metres tall. However, the blue whale is thought to be the largest animal that has ever lived in Australia.
Wombats, on the other hand, are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials native to Australia. They are about 1 metre in length with small, stubby tails, and weigh between 20 and 40 kilograms. This is roughly the same weight as a 10-year-old child. Wombats are described as 'stout', 'sturdy', and 'powerful', with short, muscular legs and sharp claws. They are expert diggers, and their burrows can have tunnels and chambers that extend up to 150 metres in radius.
Wombats have a very slow metabolism, taking 8 to 14 days to complete digestion. This aids their survival in arid conditions. They are herbivores, and spend their nights foraging for food or digging new tunnels, entrances, or exits for their burrows. Their primary defence mechanism is their toughened rear hide, which, combined with their lack of a meaningful tail, makes it difficult for predators to bite them as they retreat into their tunnels.
Wombats are native to forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania and Queensland. There are three species of wombat: the common wombat (also known as the bare-nosed wombat), and two species of hairy-nosed wombats – the Northern hairy-nosed and Southern hairy-nosed wombats. All three species are protected across Australia, except in Victoria, where bare-nosed wombats are considered agricultural pests.
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Frequently asked questions
The tallest animal in Australia is Forest, a male giraffe living at Australia Zoo in Beerwah on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. He stands at 5.7 metres tall and has been declared the tallest living giraffe by Guinness World Records.
The tallest native animal in Australia is the red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), which is also the largest extant marsupial. Large mature males can stand taller than 1.8 metres, with the largest confirmed one having been around 2.1 metres tall.
The tallest bird in Australia is the emu, which reaches up to 2 metres in height.
Dingos are the biggest carnivorous mammals in Australia.
