Kakadu national park

1. By Antonio Ah Kuoi Kakadu national park

2. Brief Background • Kakadu national park is in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin. Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu area continuously for at least 40 000 years. Kakadu is located in the topics, between 12 degrees and 14 degrees south equator. The climate is monsoonal characterised by main seasons: the dry season and the rain season.

3. Flora • Kakadu’s flora is among the richest in northern Australia with more the 1700 plant species recorded which is a result of the Park’s geological, landform and habitat diversity. Varieties of water lilies, such as the blue, yellow and white snowflakes are commonly found in these areas.

4. Fauna • Kakadu national park has support an astonishing array of animals, a number of which have adapted to particular habitats. Some animals in the park are rare endangered vulnerable or endemic. Responding to the extreme weather conditions experienced in the park, many animals are active only at particular times of the day or night or at particular times of the day

5. Introduced species • Animals in Kakadu have been introduced by non Aboriginal people. The animals were once either domesticated or native to another country and live and breed in the park. Animals like buffalo, cattle, pigs, horses, donkeys, cats and dogs

6. What have been some government initiatives to help overcome the problems of introduced species • Some introduced species are damaging to the ecosystem they are subject, and one that has gained much scrutiny by scientists, governments farmers and others. Those species that spread widely and create significant problems.