Many of Australia’s native wildlife species happily live in Perth. This includes kangaroos, wallabies, possums, black swans, quokkas, birdlife, reptiles and even koalas. Plus our oceans are home to much marine life such as dolphins, sea lions and tropical fish. Here is a list of the best places to go and spot our native wildlife.
Whiteman Park and Caversham Wildlife Park
Located 18 kilometres north-east of the Perth CBD, these wildlife parks aim to conserve and rehabilitate native fauna and flora. At Whiteman Park , there are eight different species of mammals including western grey kangaroos, southern brown bandicoots, black gloved wallabies, honey possums and short-billed echidnas. There are also over 100 species of birds —such as the wedge-tailed eagle and the black swan — and 32 reptile species.
Caversham Wildlife Park is a privately-owned native animal park situated inside Whiteman Park. It is home to 25 different mammals including dingos, koalas, kangaroos, possums, sugar gliders, Tasmanian devils, quokkas and wombats. You can also spot kookaburras, tawny frogmouths, black swans, emus and cassowaries, as well as a number of snakes and other reptiles.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is an A-Class Reserve with a focus on environmental conservation. This means all flora, fauna and marine life are protected by law. The island measures 11 kilometres by 4.5 kilometres at its widest point — no private cars are allowed on the island, so the best way to get around is on a bicycle. There are also bus tours available. This is the only place in the world you will find quokkas living in the wild. There are also a number of frogs, reptiles and birds living on the island. Rottnest is home to some of the most beautiful bays and beaches, so it’s the perfect place to go snorkelling and spot native tropical fish and coral.
Penguin Island
Located just off the coast of Rockingham, Penguin Island and the surrounding waters are home to little penguins, Australian sea lions, dolphins and birdlife. There are 10 little penguins who have been orphaned or injured and cannot survive in the wild, living in the Discovery Centre on the island. Visitors can watch these penguins get fed by trained rangers. This is the best way to see penguins up close as they are often hunting during the day. Boat tours take visitors out to see the wildlife in the natural habitat. There is even an opportunity to swim with the wild dolphins!
