Australian Animals

Western Australia, in particular the Coral Coast, has more than its fair share of unusual native animals, some of which are threatened or endangered.

One of the major factors contributing to the UNESCO World Heritage status of Shark Bay and Ningaloo is the presence of wildlife; mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and invertebrates. But it’s not just these two areas, our marine parks and national parks are teaming with wildlife, during the day and at night.

The Coral Coast is a safe haven for some of the world’s most endangered species, including the loggerhead turtle, green turtle, dugong and four mammal species not found in the wild anywhere else.

WATER

WHALE SHARKS March – July Best spot Coral Bay & Exmouth

MANTA RAYS Year round Best spot Coral Bay

DOLPHINS Year round Best spot Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Ningaloo

AUSTRALIAN SEA LIONS Year round Best spot Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Leeman, Green Head, Geraldton and Abrolhos Islands

DUGONGS Year round Best spot Shark Bay and Ningaloo

HUMPBACK WHALES July – October Best spot Kalbarri, Dirk Hartog Island, Ningaloo and Mackerel Islands

ORCAS July – October Best spot Exmouth

LAND

THORNY DEVIL LIZARD Year round Best spot Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Ningaloo

BUNGARRA SAND GOANNA Year round Best spot Francois Peron National Park and Cape Range National Park

DINGO Year round Best spot Cape Range National Park

ECHIDNAS Year round Best spot Indian Ocean Drive, Shark Bay and Ningaloo

EMUS Year round Best spot Denham town, Francois Peron National Park, Exmouth  town EMU CHICKS August & September

KANGAROOS Year round Best spot Nambung National Park and Cape Range National Park

BLACK FOOTED ROCK WALLABIES Year round Best spot Cape Range National Park

TURTLE NESTING December – February TURTLE HATCHING January – March  Best spot Dirk Hartog Island, Ningaloo and Mackerel Islands

AIR

BIRDLIFE Year round Best spot Stockyard Gully, the Abrolhos Islands, Kalbarri and Cape Range National Park

BIRDS of PREY Year round Best spot Kalbarri, Francois Peron National Park and Cape Range National Park

PELICANS Year round Best spot Kalbarri town and Monkey Mia beach

Feeding wildlife

Residents and visitors are urged to avoid feeding wildlife. The Coral Coast has a diverse array of incredible wildlife that community members and visitors are lucky enough to see regularly. With so many different wild animals comes great responsibility to ensure that these wild animals remain wild.

For the safety of all please:

• Do not encourage wildlife by providing food and water.
• Do not approach or interact with dingoes – they are wild animals and generally very shy.
• If you see hurt or injuried wildlife, please make contact with Parks & Wildlife, contact details are available on our Emergency Services page