Best Sites for Wildlife on Kangaroo Island
South Australia's Haven for Endangered Species
Nov 14, 2009
Captain Matthew Flinders gave the island its name in 1802 after his men killed a number of kangaroos for food. Fresh meat must have been quite a luxury to them. Nowadays, the kangaroos have no need to fear man and will quite happily let you approach within several yards of them.
Kangaroo Island Kangaroos
The island kangaroos are darker than their close relation, the Western Grey, with chocolate coloured coats and white chests. They are spread across the island but can be most frequently seen near the headquarters of Flinders Chase National Park. For a real close up look, stay at Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat and meet up with their resident kangaroo there.
Tammars
However you would be lucky to spot a timid Tammar wallaby as they are mainly nocturnal and have become extinct on mainland South Australia. They are abundant on the Island so a midnight stroll with a torch around American River might just reveal these shy creatures.
Seals
Large colonies of fur seals and Australian sea-lions live on the island and are well worth a visit. The sea-lions can be seen at Seal Bay on the south coast where around 600-700 of them are protected. Access to their beach is only allowed in the company of a guide and visitors must comply with their instructions. There are several sheltered breeding areas but visitors do not have access to them. However, pups and their mothers can be seen on the beach as well as the larger male sea-lions.
The fur seals prefer the area around Cape du Couedic where they come out of the sea to rest on the sloping rocks after their forays for food. They are smaller than the sea-lions and with a denser fur coat, much sought after by sealers in previous years. Their numbers are increasing; they breed annually compared with the sea-lions' 18 month cycle.
Koalas
Just east of Cape du Couedic is the Hanson Bay Sanctuary with its Koala Walk. Peer up into the branches of the Blue Gum trees to spot these sleepy creatures. With luck, one may be browsing among the lower branches or may decide to take a walk along the ground to a neighbouring tree.
Koalas were thought to be extinct in South Australia and in the 1920s a group of 18 adult animals and some young were reintroduced to the island. In 2001, a count revealed over 27,000 of them and a sterilisation programme has had to be introduced to restrict their numbers and to prevent irreparable damage to the gum trees.
Bird Life on Kangaroo Island
There are around 250 recorded species, some of which, like the Glossy Black-Cockatoo, are endangered. The White-bellied Sea Eagle breeds on the rugged north and west coasts and can be seen soaring above Seal Bay. More common are the Wedge-tailed Eagles. Cape Barren Geese breed in the National Park where their numbers have now reached 1000.
The pelicans enjoy a tea-time feed at Kingscote Wharf courtesy of John, who has a unique line in patter. The birds wait nearby and squat with fish-filled crops in among the audience.
Echidnas
Kangaroo Island echidnas are a recognised subspecies, being lighter in colour than mainland ones. If you visit between May and September when they court, you may be lucky enough to see an echidna train; a female followed by up to ten males.
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