East Arnhem Land is home to thousands of species of native wildlife. Having an expanse of varying ecsystems, wildlife in East Arnhem Land flourishes with habitats varying from the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria to monsoonal wetlands and everything in between.
Prolific wildlife in East Arnhem Land includes hundreds of bird species including the blue-faced honeyeater, and the iconic Australian kangaroo and wallaby just to name a few. The region is one of Australia’s most spectacular marine and coastal destinations and is home to a variety of marine animals such as the saltwater crocodile, dolphins, dugongs, turtles and countless 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 saltwater crocodile (Crocodilus porosus) also known as ‘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. These magnificent creatures are the world’s largest reptile and have roamed this land for over 200 million years. 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 (baru) is the largest, and most dangerous, reaching lengths in excess of six metres. 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 their Crocwise team. There is coordinated signage at all of the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation recreation areas raising crocodile awareness. Dhimurru invites people to report crocodile sightings to them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and the reported sightings are posted on the Dhimurru website and Dhimurru Facebook page to deliver crocodile awareness in the region. Dhimurru advises for people to always take care when near the waters 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, mangrove forests, flood plains and coastal shorelines encourages 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’!