What You Might See

Kangaroo Island Kangaroos: the Island's isolation has seen some species evolve differently from the mainland species. This is evident in the KI Kangaroo, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo which is smaller, darker and has longer fur than its mainland counterpart. Kangaroos and wallabies can be seen over most of the Island.

Tammar Wallabies: the Tammar Wallaby has smaller and finer features than the kangaroo and is abundant on the Island. Mainland populations are extinct in southeastern Australia, with only a small population surviving in Western Australia.

Australian Sea Lions and New Zealand Fur Seals: both species native to Kangaroo Island and most famously seen in great numbers around Admirals Arch and magnificent Seal Bay. At the latter you can join Park's Guides on beach tours to observe animals basking, playing and returning from their overnight fishing expeditions. Over 7,000 fur seals live and breed around Cape du Couedic.

Heath Goannas: a magnificent lizard that grows up to a metre. A predator of smaller reptiles, young birds and eggs, it is often seen on warm days basking or scavenging on dead animals along the roads.

Echidnas: an egg-laying mammal occasionally seen in the understorey foraging for ants with its sticky tongue. Kangaroo Island echidnas have distinctive ‘blonde' spines.

Koalas: one of the Island's most famous characters. The koala (like the platypus and Ringtail Possum) is an introduced species and their numbers have truly exploded. Unlike on the mainland, you don't have to try too hard to get your first glimpse of a wild koala.

Other natives: Brushtail Possum, Short Beaked Echidna, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Western and Little Pygmy Possum, Bush and Swamp Rat, six bat species, six frog species, Black Tiger Snake and Pygmy Copperhead.