Wildlife Statistics in Australia

As of 2009, Australia is home to at least 106,000 known animal species across major taxonomic groups.¹

• It has 98,703 invertebrate species and 5,000 fish species¹; among Australian vertebrates, fish are the most numerous group, thriving in Australia's vast marine and freshwater ecosystems.
• With 917 reptile species, constituting 11.3% of these selected Australian chordate groups¹, Australia holds 10.5% of the world's 8,734 known reptile species, including many endemic lizards, snakes, and turtles.
• The 828 bird species (10.2%)¹ in Australia include unique and endemic species like the Emu, Kookaburra, and Lyrebird, adapted to diverse habitats.
• Tunicata (757 species, 9.3%)¹ are marine filter feeders found in Australia's coral reefs and deep-sea environments.
• Mammals (386 species, 4.7%), amphibians (227 species, 2.8%), cephalochordata (8 species, <0.1%), and agnatha (5 species, <0.1%) also contribute to Australia's wildlife biodiversity.¹

The 2009 count is the latest national tally available; no newer edition has been published.

619 animals are listed as threatened under Australia's national environment law (the EPBC Act): 147 critically endangered, 250 endangered and 222 vulnerable. Another 67 are listed as extinct and one fish as extinct in the wild.⁸

How many wildlife deaths have occurred in Australia?

Over 100 million animals in Australia were killed, injured, or displaced due to habitat destruction in NSW and Queensland from 2016 to 2020.⁹ Based on available data provided by Greenpeace Australia Pacific and RSPCA Queensland, the estimated number of animals killed, injured or displaced in NSW and Queensland over that period includes:

• Mammals: 4.5 million⁹
• Birds: 9.3 million⁹
• Reptiles: 96 million⁹

Reptiles suffer the most, as 2.4 million hectares of forest and bushland have been cleared, with 90% of bushland loss in NSW and Queensland linked to beef production.⁹

How many animals died in the Black Summer bushfires?

The 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires in Australia were among the most devastating in history, burning up to 19 million hectares¹⁰ and leaving nearly 3 billion animals killed or displaced, including:

• Reptiles: 2.46 billion¹⁰
• Birds: 0.18 billion (180 million)¹⁰
• Mammals: 0.143 billion (143 million)¹⁰
• Frogs: 0.051 billion (51 million)¹⁰

Reptiles suffered the highest losses due to their reliance on fire-prone habitats and limited ability to escape rapidly spreading fires.

In terms of National Parks, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland is the most biodiverse: it lies within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, home to 368 bird species and 107 mammal species¹⁸, plus numerous reptiles and amphibians.

• Marine Reserves: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland hosts 1,500+ fish species, 400 corals¹⁹, and various marine mammals, making it the richest ecosystem.
• Remote Areas: Kangaroo Island, South Australia has 25 land mammal species (eight of them introduced)²⁰ and numerous birds.

National Park

Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

• Total Species: Over 280 bird species²¹, 77 mammal species, 132 reptile species, and over 10,000 insect species²².

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

• Total Species: 26 native mammal species²³ and 178 bird species²⁴.

Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

• Total Species: 368 bird species and 107 mammal species across the wider Wet Tropics World Heritage Area¹⁸, plus numerous reptiles and amphibians.

Great Otway National Park, Victoria

• Total Species: 139 mammal species recorded across the Great Otway parks and reserves²⁵, and numerous bird species.

Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria

• Total Species: Over 30 native mammal species²⁶ and half of Victoria's bird species²⁷.

Marine Reserve

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

• Total Species: Over 1,500 fish species, 400 coral species¹⁹, and marine life such as dolphins and turtles.

Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia

• Total Species: More than 500 fish species²⁸ and other marine life, including whale sharks.

Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, Western Australia

• Total Species: At least 75 fish species recorded in its shallow nearshore waters²⁹, and various seabirds.

Remote Areas

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

• Total Species: 25 land mammal species (eight of them introduced) and numerous bird species²⁰.

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

• Total Species: Tasmanian devils, spotted-tailed and eastern quolls, wombats, platypus and echidnas³⁰.

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve, Victoria

• Total Species: Various marine mammals including whales during migration seasons³¹.

At the turn of the century, Australia had over 200 captive wildlife facilities, which drew more than 8 million visitors a year, about five million (62.5%) of them Australian⁴², according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from the late 1990s. By 2020, zoos and aquariums were counting over 20 million visits a year⁴³, and Australians' visits to wildlife parks, zoos and aquariums grew 46% from 2014 to 2023⁴⁴. These facilities include:

• Large, publicly owned or statutory zoos, which exhibit both native and exotic animals.
• Wildlife exhibits within major theme parks, offering close encounters with various species.
• Privately owned zoos and fauna parks, which operate independently without subsidies and primarily feature Australian native wildlife.
• Small native wildlife exhibits integrated into broader tourist attractions with diverse themes.
• Independent wildlife exhibitors, who maintain small captive collections for public display.

Hitting an animal is one of the biggest risks on an Australian road trip. NRMA Insurance received more than 15,000 animal collision claims in 2025, 21% more than in 2024⁴⁶, and kangaroos accounted for 84% of its wildlife-related claims.

• Worst months: the risk rises between April and September, and July had the most claims nationally in 2025⁴⁷.
• Worst times: dawn, dusk and night, when you're most likely to meet kangaroos on the road⁴⁸.
• Victoria: RACV received 7,232 kangaroo collision claims in 2025, an average of 20 a day, and the average claim cost $9,000⁴⁸.
• Hotspot: Dubbo in the Central West is NSW's top suburb for wildlife collisions⁴⁶.
• Country roads: in NSW, 1 in every 41 crashes on country roads resulting in injury or death involves a vehicle hitting an animal⁴⁹.

Each insurer counts only its own customers' claims, so the national total is higher than any one insurer's figure.