| People visit Australia for different reasons - the | | | | wilderness and the practice of interbreeding. |
| country has lively cities, spectacular scenery and a | | | | Wallabies are often mistaken for kangaroos - just like |
| fascinating Aborigine culture. And many people go | | | | kangaroos they can hop and jump. They range in size |
| there to experience the country's unique wildlife, | | | | from just a few inches to almost six feet long. They |
| animals that cannot be seen anywhere else, such as | | | | can be found all over the country in every kind of |
| the koala bear, kangaroo, dingo and wallaby. | | | | habitat - desert, forest and swamp. Wallabies can go |
| Australia's diverse conditions and landscapes have | | | | a long time without drinking - in fact they can actually |
| contributed to the evolution of creatures with rare or | | | | dig their own wells to locate water. |
| unique characteristics. Millions of years of isolation | | | | And perhaps the oddest of Australia's wondrous |
| from other land-masses have also given rise to flora | | | | creatures is the Emu - the bird that can run fast but |
| and fauna that is unique to the country. Australia | | | | cannot fly. Emus are enormous, often standing up to |
| boasts an amazing 450 species of mammals, 2,000 | | | | six feet above the ground; they are also a very old |
| species of fish and even an estimated 2,000 species | | | | species, having been around for about 80 million |
| of fly. | | | | years. The Emu has always been important to the |
| The kangaroo is perhaps the most instantly | | | | Aborigines as it provides them with thetwo things |
| recognizable of Australia's animals - well known to | | | | most important for them to survive, food and |
| anyone who has flown the country's airline QANTAS, | | | | clothing. |
| as the airline's striking logo. Surprisingly, there are | | | | Many of these exotic creatures can easily be seen in |
| actually over 60 species of kangaroo and most of | | | | the wild, although there are also plenty of places |
| them are found only in Australia - they can be seen | | | | throughout Australia where your chances of seeing |
| all over the country, from tropical rain forests to hot | | | | them are greater. Australia has many natural parks |
| deserts. The kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the | | | | and wildlife sanctuaries, many of which are |
| world - it is not unusual for them to reach seven | | | | designated as World Heritage sites. Several |
| feet high. | | | | companies specialize in tours to the Outback or other |
| Australia's cuddly koala bear is almost as well known | | | | parts of the country, offering the chance to observe |
| as the kangaroo, although it isn't actually a bear - it's | | | | animals and birds in the company of an experienced |
| a distant relation of the wombat. Koalas are definitely | | | | guide. |
| cuddly - in fact, they are probably one of the most | | | | You can cuddle a koala at the Lone Pine Koala |
| docile animals in the world. If you come across a | | | | Sanctuary near Brisbane, spot wild kangaroos at |
| koala bear, chances are that it's asleep - koalas spend | | | | Jervis Bay near Sydney and stroll through the |
| around 80% of their lives asleep and the rest of their | | | | country's biggest butterfly sanctuary at Kuranda, |
| time eating. | | | | near Cairns. The huge Kakadu National Park covers |
| If you have ever heard the cry of the Kookaburra, | | | | around 6,000 square miles in the north of the country |
| you will understand why the bird is also known as the | | | | near to Darwin and offers the chance to see over 75 |
| laughing jackass. The bird actually belongs to the | | | | species of reptile and around 200 species of bird. |
| kingfisher family although it eats insects and small | | | | And if you are spending your Aussie vacation time in |
| reptiles, rather than fish; the reason for its strange | | | | Sydney, plan an escape to the nearby Wonderland |
| laugh? Some people claim the bird is laughing with | | | | Sydney theme park, a short distance from the city. |
| man, others say it is the bird's way of warning of | | | | In addition to the usual theme park rides, you can |
| bad weather. | | | | also enjoy a close encounter with many animals, |
| The dingo is a wild dog, which was probably | | | | including koalas, kangaroos and crocodiles - in fact |
| introduced to the continent from South East Asia. | | | | there are over 50 species of native animal all in their |
| Despite their somewhat ferocious reputation, Dingoes | | | | natural surroundings. |
| are no more dangerous than any other domestic | | | | A trip to the Land Down Under is an unforgettable |
| breed of dog. Dingoes cannot bark although they | | | | experience. It is a chance to see some of the world's |
| make up for it by yelping and howling. Unfortunately, | | | | most unique animals at home in some of the world's |
| the dingo is dying out due to man encroaching on the | | | | most stunning scenery. |