Animals of the Coral Coast

The unique habitats of Western Australia's Coral Coast support a diverse array of native animals. Wildlife encounters can be enjoyed throughout the region, particularly at dawn and dusk, as many species are nocturnal.

Black footed rock wallaby

The black footed rock wallaby is one of Western Australia’s rare animals that can be found on the Coral Coast. Formerly widespread throughout the State, it is now only found in a few isolated localities with populations of less than 100 animals per site. It usually feeds at night in open grassy areas where it can also find fruit, leaves and a variety of herbs. They can be found year round sheltering within the gorge walls at Yardie Creek Gorge in the Cape Range National Park near Exmouth.

Kangaroos

Western Australia's Coral Coast is home to two varieties of these iconic Australian animals - the western grey kangaroo and the red kangaroo. The grey kangaroos like to graze in grassy patches of bushland and forest habitats and can be found in areas such as Cervantes. The red kangaroo prefers the arid climate of Shark Bay. The best time to see kangaroos is in the early morning or afternoon. Please note that kangaroos are prolific in numbers around dawn and after dusk so take particular caution when driving at those times.

Thorny devils

This Australian reptile has an interesting appearance. Covered in thorns and growing up to 20cm in length, they may look quite dangerous but they are in fact harmless. They feed mainly on ants and can be found in desert habitats including Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Exmouth. The thorny devil’s biggest threat is the car, so keep a look out when driving in the region.

Echidnas

Although widespread, they're not a common sight on Western Australia’s Coral Coast. These elusive, largely solitary animals have highly sensitive hearing and a good sense of smell, enabling them to avoid unwelcome company. The best time to spot echidnas is around dusk or dawn when they are out foraging.

Bilbies

The bilby is a member of the bandicoot family. It has long ears and a pointy snout, silky grey fur, long white feet and a little pink nose. With their rabbit-like features, it’s easy to see why they are fast replacing the ‘bunny’ as the Australian symbol of Easter.

The bilby is an endangered species, due to the threat of foxes, feral cats and loss of habitat from bushfires and the introduction of rabbits. However, there is still hope for these endearing animals. In Shark Bay, on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, bilbies are bred in captivity and released into Francois Peron National Park (an area free of all threats) as part of the local ‘Project Eden’ conservation initiative. To find out more about the conservation of the bilby visit the Shark Bay World Heritage website.

The national parks of Western Australia’s Coral Coast offer many great opportunities to encounter native animals in their natural habitat.