Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat | Australia

Postcard

Most of Australia’s wildlife is found nowhere else in the world . 87% of mammal species, 93% of reptiles, 94% of frogs and 45% of the bird species are found only in Australia. The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat is no exception.

This large, pudgy mammal is a marsupial, or pouched animal, found in Australia and on scattered islands nearby. It is solitary and nocturnal, which makes the wombat a rare sight for people in the wild. Adapted to digging, the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat is a stout and robust animal with strong claws.

Tasmanian Devil | Australia

Postcard

Most of Australia’s wildlife is found nowhere else in the world. 87% of mammal species, 93% of reptiles, 94% of frogs and 45% of the bird species are found only in Australia. Tasmanian devils can only be found in the wild in Australia. 

 

Tasmanian Devils are solitary and nocturnal, spending their days alone in hollow logs, caves, or burrows, and emerging at night to feed. Did you know Tasmanian Devils eat entire carcasses, including fur and bones?

Once found all over Australia, Tasmanian devils now live only on the island state of Tasmania. Efforts to eradicate the Devils in the late 1800s almost succeeded. But sadly they are now threatened by an illness that has already killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. 

Thx Steve!

The Australian Pelican

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The Australian Pelican is found throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and western Indonesia. There are seven species of pelicans in the world, all of which are similar in shape and, with one exception, are primarily white in colour. 

Cookie the Little Penguin | Australia

Postcard

The video I stumbled upon, inspired me to post this card here. It shows a cute Little Penguin by the name Cookie. Little penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world, with an average height of just 33 centimetres. They are found only on the southern coastlines of Australia and New Zealand. 

Australian little penguin colonies primarily exist on offshore islands, like Granite Island, where they are protected from feral terrestrial predators and human disturbance. The population of Little Penguins is decreasing as numerous colonies have recently declined or disappeared. 

(thx for sending Steve!)

Common Brushtail Possum | Australia

Postcard

Common Brushtail Possums live in urban areas, forests and woodlands all over Australia. These possums were introduced to New Zealand in the 1830s but are considered a pest there. While in Australia it is a protected species.

 

Stamp

This stamp commemorates the founding of the first "official" settlement in Victoria at Portland by the Henty family, on the 19 November, 1834. The stamp shows the Leadbeater's Possum, only to be found in Victoria. (issue 1984)

Thx Steve!

Australian Bush Birds

Postcard

Australia has more than 800 bird species. Five of them on this postcard: Red Browed Finch, Superb Blue Wren, Kookaburra, Parrot and Budgerigar.

Stamps

Four more birds: birds that visit Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Stamps produced for Cocos (Keeling) Islands can be used for posting in Australia and all Australian Territories.

Thx Steve!

Animals of Australia

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Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal.

More than 80 per cent of Australia’s plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique and are found no-where outside Australia. This postcards shows some of the best known: Dingo, Kangaroo, Koala, Kookaburra, Emu, Lorikeet, Tasmanian Devil and Wombat.

Stamp

More typical Australian animals: Echidna, Common Wombat, Grey Kangaroo and Koala. Part of a set of six stamps about native animals of Australia.

Thank you very much Steve!

Australia week: the Platypus

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Probably one of Australia’s most peculiar animals: the Platypus. A venomous semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal. When first discovered, the unusual look of a Platypus caused considerable confusion and doubt amongst European naturalists and scientists, many of whom believed that the animal was a fake.

 

Stamp

A prepaid postcard, with extra Platypus stamp.

Thx Steve!

Aren't they cute? Koalas from Australia.

Postcard

Australian Koalas are loved world-wide. Their gum-leaf diet is low in energy, so Koalas spend much of their time slumbering comfortably in the fork of a tree. A young Koala stays with its mother until it is about a year old, and often hitches a ride on her back.

Stamp

London 2012 Olympic games.