What unique wildlife can you see in Kakadu National Park?

What unique wildlife can you see in Kakadu National Park?

Written by: Cameron Ward

Published: 02/15/2019

Reading time: 3 mins

Huddled in Australia’s Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park is listed as the largest terrestrial national park in the country.

Due to its size, this vast Aussie landscape is home to a spectacularly unique and diverse ecosystem. Each area of the park has a different environment. Cascading waterfalls, thick bushland, and dry rocky areas, transform each area into a different bio network.

  • Crocodiles

    Found roaming the dark and muddy waters of Kakadu are the fearsome Salt Water Crocs. These reptiles have been around for aeons, outliving the dinosaurs by about 65 million years. In all this time they have remained at the top of the food chain within their habitat. They are deadly sneaky and fast in catching their prey. Although they pose a risk to humans, you can still see them safely. Joining a professional tour will guarantee you a safe way to these glorious creatures up close and personal.

  • Termites

    See the natural skyscrapers of Kakadu, built by the architectures of the animal kingdom-the termites! Nestled on open grass areas, these termite homes are a blend of soil, termite saliva, and dung. Towering above our heads, with some reaching up to thirty metres high. No photos will be able to capture the true wonder of these masterpieces so pop this on your Kakadu bucket list.

  • Dingoes

    Dingoes are an ancient breed of dog an unknown Asian group introduced around 5, 000 years ago. Although they technically are a dog, the years being in the wild separate from any other domesticated dog has made them distinctly different. Although they may look like your dog at home, feeding, patting, or whistling is quite dangerous, with numerous attacks being reported over the years. However, they are still a fantastic sight to see at a distance as they roam through the orange sand and thick bushland.

  • Northern Quoll

    The northern quoll was once a thriving animal that flooded the country. However, due to the introduction of the cane toads, their numbers have dropped a significant amount, endangering them and limiting their habitat to higher regions of Australia. Therefore, seeing one in the wild is a once in a lifetime experience, with a chance to spot them zipping past within the Park. They are medium to small size marsupials and have brown reddish fur with white dots scattering along their back. A fun fact about these cute creatures is during the breeding season, the males will spend their entire time doing the dirty until they eventually starve themselves to death. Unsurprisingly, females are a lot smarter and make time to eat.

  • Flying fox

    Don’t be fooled by the name, for these animals are not a fox with wings but are actually a type of bat. Kakadu is home to two of the four flying fox’s found in Australia, the black flying fox and the little red. They form large colonies, nestling in mangroves during the day and taking to the skies at night. If trekking along a night walk or camping in the area, make sure to look up if you hear swooping of wings overhead.

Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.