Koala

Koalas are marsupials, the mother koala having a backward opening pouch where their tiny young feed on milk. Baby koalas leave the pouch for shelter, they then ride on their mother's back or head until they can look after themselves completely, - at about 12 months.

They are great climbers, living high in the branches of their favourite gum trees (eucalyptus trees). Here, when not asleep (which is most of their day), they munch steadily on carefully selected, delicious young gum leaves.

Kangaroo

Red kangaroos are the largest of the living marsupials with the biggest males being 2 metres (or approx 7 feet) high when
sitting down.

They bound along at very great speeds on their two large hind legs, with their heavy tails moving up and down for balance. Their tails also act as a third leg when they are standing or moving slowly. 
   
The mother kangaroo has a deep forward-opening pouch where the baby drinks its milk until it is old enough to leave and move about on its own. This is at about 6 months of age, but even then the "joey" will jump back into its mother's pouch to avoid danger, to travel, or just to have a sleep.

Emu

Emus cannot fly, but with their very strong legs and toes, they can run in bursts of up to 50km/hour (or approx. 30mph).

They are shy birds, but very curious, and will always investigate anything new and interesting that they come across.

Emus have nests on the ground,and after the mother emu has laid her 5-11 eggs, the father emu sits on them until they hatch. This takes about 8 weeks, during which time he loses heaps of weight. After the chicks have hatched he looks after them, staying with them for up to 18 months. He is a truly wonderful Dad!

Kookaburra

Kookaburras have a very famous laughing call which is usually joined by several other birds in chorus and together they can make a deafening noise, especially at dawn and dusk. For this reason they are sometimes called the "Bushman's Alarm Clock", as they wake everybody up early in the morning, and sound their riotous alarm again at sunset when it's time to go to bed.

Kookaburras live for 20 years or more in the same family group. They pair for life and build their nest in a hole in their favourite tree.

Bungarra

Bungarras are Monitor Lizards which are also known as "goannas" in Australia.

However, in North Western Australia where the Bungarra Five live, different species of goannas are also known by their local name, "bungarra". They live in the warmer parts of Australia, loving the rocky gorge and hot desert country, and reproduce by laying eggs.

Cockatoo

White cockatoos move in large flocks in the Australian bush where they make heaps and heaps of screeching noise.

While they feed on the ground, eating seeds, nuts and grain, they post look-outs in the tops of tall trees to sound the alarm if any danger approaches. They are very clever birds and wonderful mimics, - a white cockatoo can even learn to mimic your voice!, - and the vivid colour of their sulphur yellow crest is absolutely fantastic.