Why Australian wildlife needs your help

Australia is known for its incredible native wildlife. Mammals, such as the Koala, kangaroo, Platypus and echidna, our many brightly coloured birds, and even reptiles, are sources of wonder, delight and pride. This natural heritage is part of what makes our country so unique.

More than 80 per cent of our native wildlife species are endemic, meaning that they occur naturally nowhere else in the world. The reason for this has ancient origins. Once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, Australia, as it later became known, first separated off as a landmass with Antarctica, and then split from Antarctica to drift north. Our continent’s island form meant that species could develop and evolve in isolation, becoming both unique and endemic.

Gondwana

More activities and resources

If you’re a parent, caregiver or teacher, here are some free resources to share with children. Want some more advice on stamp collecting? Read our tips on starting a collection.

Explore the Wildlife Recovery Stamp Collecting Month website