The Wildlife of Kakdu National Park

Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011

The Kakadu National Park is a very distinctive ethnological reserve, and is within the Alligators Rivers region in the Northern Territory of Australia, and covers nearly 5 million acres of land. It has continuously been occupied for the last 40,000 years, and there have been many archaeological finds in proof, and there are still Aboriginal people living there. The park is known for its amazing wetlands, and has many different types of ecosystems, including floodplains, plateaux, and tidal flats. Kakadu National Park is the second largest national park in the world, and is also on the World Heritage list.

A proposal to make Kakadu a national park was made in 1965, but wasn’t actually made an official park reserve until after 1978 because it took the Australian Government that long to obtain the titles for the land. Kakadu National Park was declared under the NPWC Act in three different stages between 1979 and 1991. Stage One was declared in April 5th, 1979, Stage Two on February 28th, 1984, and Stage Three was declared in June of 1987.

There are many beautiful things to see at Kakadu year-round, and many things to do as well. As far as wildlife goes, there’s over 250 different species of birds, 55 different types of fish, and thousands of species of insects. Throughout the wetlands, you can see many different kinds of birds including the comb-crested jacana, rainbow bee-eaters, red-tailed black cockatoos, and burdekin ducks. There are also many strange reptiles there. In my opinion, the strangest one of all is the rough knob-tailed gecko. It has a short, knobby tail, eyes like a snake, and a head shaped somewhat like a frog’s! Walks are a favorite activity to do in the Kakadu Park, as there’s many different ways to go, and things to see. Be careful, though, as the routes are unmarked. It’s best to take a guided tour. Also, make sure to check out the gorgeous rock art dating back from 50,000 years ago. There are different styles and types of art, including special events and dating.

The area that Kakadu is located actually has 6 different seasons of weather instead of only 4. From December to March is their ‘monsoon’ (heavy rain) season, or Gudjewg. April is the season of Banggerreng, or what they call their ‘knock ‘em down storm’ season, as the violent storms knock down the fields of spear grass. From May to June is Yegge, which is the season of cooler, low humidity weather. From June to August is Wurreng, which is the cold weather season, with daytime temperatures at an average of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures dropping to around 62 degrees. August to October is the dry, hot weather, or Gurrung, and October to December is the pre-storm season, or Gunumeleng, with hot weather that gradually becomes extremely humid.

The best time of year to visit Kakadu is during the monsoon season, between the months of December and March. During monsoon season, the floodplains are full of water, waterfalls are flowing freely, and all of the native vegetation is vivacious. This season is also known for great, dramatic sunsets.

The Kakadu National Park is open every day of the year. International and interstate visitors over the age of 16 are required to purchase a park pass for $25, and this will allow you in the park without any other fees for 14 consecutive days. If you wish to stay longer, you may renew the pass only once for an additional $25. All Northern Territory residents and children under the age of 16 may enter for free. There is a fee exemption for school groups and sponsored guests of Tourism Australia or Tourism NT. For fee exemption, the groups are required to submit a fee exemption form. Make sure you apply in advance before your trip, as it can take 14 or more business days for your application to be processed. The fee exemption form is available for download at the park’s website, http://www.kakadu.com.au/ticket.html.

Wildlife of Australia

Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010

Koala:

The famous face of the koala is synonymous with Australia; koala is an Aboriginal world meaning "no drink," which refers to the long periods of time they spend in the eucalyptus trees, where they both dine and extract water from the leaves.  The koala is a mammal, related to the kangaroo and the wombat; warm blooded, they have extremely sharp teeth and claws.

Kangaroo:

The kangaroo, and his smaller cousin the wallaby, come in all colors, shapes and sizes - about 60, give or take a few.  They might be dusky gray or rust red, weigh anywhere from 2 pounds to 200 pounds, and live in the tropics or the red desert, but they all have one thing in common, powerful back legs and large feet.  Marsupials, they have a great eyesight and excellent hearing. Their ears swivel in different directions to hear sound.

Crocodile:

Survivors from the "Age of Reptiles," Crocodiles are about the closest living thing to a prehistoric creature, dating back about 200 million years.  There are two varieties in Australia, saltwater and freshwater.  You can tell them apart by the shape of their snout, and their behavior is a sure-fire giveaway.  Saltwater crocodiles are aggressive, large and carnivorous, while the freshwater diet is primarily fish.

Duckbill Platypus:

One of the most interesting facts about the platypus is that they are the only mammals who lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.  The shy duckbill platypus is found only in eastern Australia.  With their oddly-shaped snout that looks like a duck's bill, it's often thought they are smiling, a mistake not to be made, as they are the only venomous mammal in the world.