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 injured wildlife, please make contact with Parks & Wildlife, contact details are available on our Emergency Services page
