Animals of
the Northern Territory
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As the Northern Territory extends from the deserts of the Red
Center up to the lush monsoon forests of the tropical Top End,
the wildlife is varied. It takes a lot of effort to stalk and
photograph wildlife that is shy, elusive and usually nocturnal.
Two remarkable wildlife parks helped make this task easier, the
Alice Springs Wildlife Park and the Northern Territory Wildlife
Park near Darwin. There we saw for the first time some of the
rarest nocturnal critters like the bilby, Golden-backed tree
rat, Fawn antechinus, Fat-tailed dunnart and Magnificient tree
frog. Mysterious names that are often longer than the animal
itself! |
Animals photographed in Captivity
The Northern Territory Wildlife Park near Darwin |
The Thorny devil Moloch horridus a small lizard that eats ants.
Its spines are used to trap condensation, often its only supply
of water in the desert. (Alice Springs Desert Park) |
Emu sheltering under the shade of a small bush. (Alice Springs
Desert Park) |
Emu close up. (Alice Springs Desert Park) |
Sugar glider Petaurus breviceps can glide from tree to tree like
our flying squirrels. (NT Wildlife Park) |
A saltwater croc eye to eye. (NT Wildlife Park) |
The rare Black wallaroo is found only in Kakadu National Park.
(NT Wildlife Park) |
The Northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus is relatively common compared
to other quoll species. (NT Wildlife Park) |
A large Magnificient tree frog Litoria splendida is over 4 inches
long (8 cm). (NT Wildlife Park) |
The tiny Fat-tailed dunnart Sminthsopsis crassicaudatus is a
feisty carnivorous marsupial barely larger than a mouse. Seen
here eating a meal worm. (NT Wildlife Park) |
The Southern boobook owl is widespread in Australia. (NT Wildlife
Park) |
The male bilby (top) is much larger than the female. (NT Wildlife
Park) |
A Rocket frog Litoria nascuta peers over a leaf. (NT Wildlife
Park) |
Camels are feral animals in Australian deserts but some are tamed
for camel trekking safaris. |
Animals photographed in the Wild
(NT)
Crimson finch fledglings huddle together for warmth at dawn. |
Eastern reef egret (dark morph) stabs a tasty morsel. |
Whistling kite hovering over a brush fire, waiting for flying
insects. |
A red dragonfly |
Praying mantis rests on a hat |
A Mertens water monitor Varanus mertensi observes its billabong
domain. |
A White-bellied sea eagle waiting to dive for a fish… |
… and flying away with its catch. |
The shy Johnston's freshwater crocodile is inoffensive, feeding
on small fish and frogs. |
The much larger and fiercer Saltwater crocodile can measure up
to 8 m. We were charged head on by such a monster…a memorable
experience. |
The frilled lizard is a tree dweller.
It can suddenly expand its ruff like an
umbrella to frighten an intruder.
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