With their strong rear legs they can travel long distances with speed. Between 80 and 90 per cent of Australians live in urban areas. Australia is the 55th largest country in the world in terms of population, between Cameroon and Madagascar.It is also the most populous country in Oceania, three times more populous than its neighbor Papua New Guinea (8.2 million) and 5 times more populous than New Zealand (4.5 million). There are many walking and biking trails, so it’s a great day trip option from Melbourne too. Here are some of the more common … A kangaroo jumps in a field amid smoke from a bushfire in Snowy Valley on the outskirts of Cooma, Australia, on January 4, 2020. In fact, Kangaroo Island, off the southern coast of South Australia, was so named by Matthew Flinders because of the large numbers of kangaroos he saw there. These include kangaroos, which can be quite tall, or small, such as the quokka. But one of the many ways in which Australia is special is that if you do go there, you’ll actually see these species. In 2016, there were almost 45 million kangaroos in Australia, compared to about 27 million in 2010. You can get up close and personal with many of them in our zoos and wildlife parks or, if you're lucky, you might just spot them in their natural habitat.. Australia has strict regulations about the humane killing of the animals. Joeys grow slowly, and many die, so kangaroo populations can expand by only 10 to 15 percent a year, and then only under the best of circumstances. Please email wps@awe.gov.au with any questions about applying for a permit or for queries relating to existing permit applications. ... with some environmentalists mourning the loss of Australia’s native koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. New government data shows Australia’s kangaroo population is close to hitting 50 million. Find out more Travel deals to get you here ... Travel + Leisure has named Australia as its 2020 Destination of the Year. Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk carries an injured koala on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The 700-hectare park is also home to wallabies, echidnas, many bird species, and bandicoots. The fauna of Australia is incredibly unique, and often a bucket list item for visitors. You can get up close and personal with many of them in our zoos and wildlife parks or, if you're lucky, you might just spot them in their natural habitat.. In 2011, there were approximately 1.15 million red kangaroos, 674000 western grey kangaroos and 495000 wallaroos in South Australia. Many of our native animals are only found here. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images Types of Kangaroos. Experts fear a billion animals including have perished in the bushfires, according to Sky News. Camels in Australia: How many camels are there in Australia? 1819 Howden “Kangaroos appeared in great numbers” 1820 Sutherland “A great number of kangaroos in South Australia.” 1828 Sturt “There were very many kangaroos, the intervening brush was full of kangaroos” 1833 Bennett “Kangaroos and emus were numerous” 1836 Mitchell “During the day we saw a great number of kangaroos” Being marsupials, they carry their young in a pouch. Half the island’s 50,000 koalas are estimated to have perished in the bushfires. The fauna of Australia is incredibly unique, and often a bucket list item for visitors. Kangaroos live mostly in rural areas. Up to a billion animals across Australia could be impacted by the raging wildfires -- spelling trouble for the country's ecosystem and environments for years to come. Many of our native animals are only found here. Australia is famous for its wildlife - kangaroos, koalas and numerous species of snakes and spiders - but it is also home to the world's largest herd of camels. Kangaroo population estimates Due to the impacts of coronavirus on working arrangements, stakeholders are requested to contact the Wildlife Trade Sections via email rather than telephone.