Iconic Aussie Animals
 

With the recent increasing citification of Australia, there are many people who have not seen our iconic and recognisable creatures in their natural environment outside of zoos and captivity.

Just out of interest, I have created a poll to get a rough idea of just how many people have actually managed to appreciate these animals where they are supposed to be.

And feel free to contribute any additional critters in here, or share anecdotes of the meetings.

I know that my first meeting with a pod of breaching whales when I was just in a tinnie was rather terrifying and somewhat special.

I'd immediately query the 100% viewings of platypus in the wild if I didn't realise that this poll is of a very small part of the overall population.

I'd also like to suggest that if people did plant more natives and indeed any vegetation, in cities, then there would appear many more sightings of native animals within cityscapes.

I do realise this is not a representative sample of the population, as the people likely to take the poll are participants of a nature related forum.

I still think that even knowing this skew in demographics, the results will be interesting.

Koala!!
My first koala experience was a memorable one ..not long after the movie "picnic at hanging Rock"
We were at Hanging Rock,on a misty silent morning..visibility low...no one around ..everything still , and I was off exploring.



I had never heard koala vocalisations .up until the point the sound froze me to the spot! .......I was absolutely terrified for a short time , as my imagination took over ! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.png

Ok, I said the first three, but having said that my only emu experiences were long distance viewing. Used to have a resident kangaroo in the camp at Mt Keith and some echidnas in the camp at Leinster when I was there.

Also, should have put in a choice for Tasmanian Tiger... http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

Koala! D'Oh!

The poll was limited to only 10 options, so I was always going to leave out some options unfortunately.

I think it is not only the fact that this is a group of people who are interested in "natural worlds" but the sample size to date.
I have seen platypuses in the Warrawong Sanctuary, where they do belong and have done since the year dot, but it is n o long "wild", having been fenced, so figured that didn't count.

the statute of limitations. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.png

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

I haven't seen a Tassie devil in the wild, but I can tick off all the others (+ koala) from the list.

I've never seen either a cassowary or a crocodile, in the wild.

I've seen lots of crocodiles and kangaroos in the wild (huzzah for Territory living), The boy and I came across some emu's on our drive down to his parents place and seen wombats running about on his parents block...

I suppose it's really easy to see wildlife doing the wild thing in the Territory as in less than a fifteen minute drive from the city, you're "out bush" already...

kangaroos, emus and echidnas are here in our local area http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png echidnas like to forage in our drive at night. roos come into the front paddock and our driveway regularly. emus pass through occassionally. longest one has stayed in the front paddock grazing was 2 days. i regularly see wombats when travelling through the sa riverland. penguins and platypus in the wild were on kangaroo island.

I suppose dead wombats on the nullarbor don't really count as 'in the wild'.

maths students.. observe;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...enSnapz011.jpg

If they are dead, one could assume that they'd been tamed.

Dead by the side of the road is not a natural environment for a critter. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

The only wombat I have seen was in such a state, so didn't include it on my list.

As for the poll, it is progressing as I suspected. I listed from what I thought would be the most commonly observed critter to the least. Apart from getting crocodiles and wombats swapped (I am from the north like Squeezy), I think I guessed the distribution pretty well.

What do I get for 10 out of 10?

I've seen the lot in the wild. More than once.

The Cassowaries at Etty bay don't really count as they scavenge around the camp sites and shop. The ones at Cape Trib and Mission beach are definitely wild though http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

What about kangaroos eating grass from the local school oval? I suppose that's not "in the wild" either :P

I have also seen brumbies but they're not exactly iconic Aussie animals.

I am surprised at the number of people that have seen a Platypus in the wild, they are shy and not easily seen, except for Eungella National Park and in the main street of Atherton??? at Platypus Park??? where they are surprisingly easy to see.

Edit: also surprised at the Lyrebird, common where they live, but not easy to see.