East Arnhem Land is home to an expansive array of native wildlife species. With a broad range of ecosystems, wildlife in East Arnhem Land flourishes with habitats varying from the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria to monsoonal wetlands and much in between.
The prolific wildlife in East Arnhem Land includes more than 200 bird species and the iconic Australian kangaroos and wallabies. The region is one of Australia’s most spectacular marine and coastal destinations and is home to a wide variety of marine animals including saltwater crocodiles, dolphins, dugong, turtles and myriad fish species including the barramundi and Spanish mackerel.
For the animal lover, there's plenty to discover in East Arnhem Land.
Crocodiles
East Arnhem Land is home to the world's largest living reptile, the estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodilus porosus), or ‘baru’ in the local language, and the ancient animal is an iconic image of the Northern Territory. Crocodiles are native to the region and are a protected species. The saltwater crocodile is a clan totem of some Yolŋu and are powerful representatives of Yolŋu mythology.
Of the 23 crocodile species around the world, the Australian saltwater crocodile is the largest and most dangerous, reaching lengths up to 7m and weighing more than 500kg. It lives in both freshwater and estuarine waterways and is a shrewd and aggressive hunter.
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation works closely with the Parks and Wildlife Commission and its Crocwise team. There is coordinated signage at all of the Dhimurru recreation areas raising crocodile awareness. Dhimurru invites people to report crocodile sightings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and reported sightings are posted on the Dhimurru website and Facebook page to deliver crocodile awareness in the region. Dhimurru advises people to always take care when near the water's edge, and not to clean fish or leave food scraps where they might attract crocodile activity.
Stay safe and be Crocwise when in East Arnhem Land.
Read more about being Crocwise here.
Birds
A variety of ecosystems from monsoon woodlands to mangrove forests, flood plains and coastal shorelines encourage a large range of bird species in East Arnhem Land. Sightings include the northern fantail, blue-faced honeyeater, white-bellied cuckoo-shrike and the brown falcon. With hundreds of different species, and even a handful of endemic and rare species living in East Arnhem Land, it is a great place for the keen twitcher to ‘tick their list’!